Sarah Sjöström is not taking it easy after the Olympic Games.
On Monday, the superstar held her own gala at home in Eriksdalsbadet in Stockholm, where she swam quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals in two events, 50 meters freestyle and 50 meters butterfly. The 30-year-old therefore jumped into the pool six times during the three-hour competition.
Won double – but no world record
The competition was of mixed class, and not surprisingly, Sarah Sjöström won in both events. Sara Junevik, who also competed in the same disciplines, came second in both.
— It was good, approved. Short track is a challenge. I feel that I have the speed and then it takes a little stop when it comes to turning, says Sjöström.
But neither in freestyle nor in butterfly did she achieve any world record times. The closest was in butterfly, when she finished 29 hundredths of a second behind Therese Alshammar's 15-year-old world record on short track.
I'm going to leave here with a smile on my lips, and I would have done that regardless of whether I got a world record or not, so it's very fun.
"Should be easy to inspire"
During the competition, called Sjöström Invitational, swimmers of different ages mixed, and in addition to the elite class, there were also several junior classes. Something Sarah Sjöström thought was important.
I felt that we need a competition where we mix international swimmers, Swedish stars, and kids – that we meet somewhere.
It should be easy to inspire the next generation. I think that's needed to create an even greater breadth in Swedish swimming in the future, to invite young people.
But now, after an Olympic Games and a self-organized competition, it's time for Sjöström to take a break for a while.
The body probably needed recovery. I saw that "Mondo" went to Greece a few days ago. I understand that it was well-deserved. Now I'll just take a little vacation like everyone else, it's needed.
