– I feel good and it was a good race. As usual with morning swims, I don’t have to force anything, but am quite confident about moving on, says Sjöström to SVT Sport from the edge of the pool in Doha.
Kate Douglass was second in the heat in 24.19, which was the second fastest time. Sjöström’s world record from the WC in Fukuoka in Japan this summer is 23.61.
Also Coleman to the semi-finals
Michelle Coleman is also through to the semi-finals after swimming 24.75.
– It felt good. I had a good “flow” but had wished for better tone and hope that it will come tonight. It was a safe morning swim, says Coleman and hopes that the feeling in the muscles will be even better.
A little later, Sophie Hansson finished in 30.83 in her 50 meter breaststroke attempt, which is by a good margin enough for a semi-final ticket.
On the men’s side, Björn Seeliger swam the 50 meter backstroke in 25.10, which takes him to the semi-finals as twelfth in the trial race.
“It’s never a given”
Tonight, Sjöström will swim the final of the 50 meter butterfly, where she is chasing her sixth straight gold in the event.
– There is a lot of pressure and many expect me to win, but that is never a given. The only thing I can do is put all the details that I work on in training and that all the thousand races I have done in 50 butterfly should remain in my body and that I have not forgotten it tonight, says Sjöström with a smile before the final 17.02 tonight.
The semi-finals of the 50 meter freestyle start at 17.50 this evening.
WC guide: TV times and programmes
