Sjöström went home from the money-hungry ISL circus in Naples after two matches and the intention was that she would train and recover at home after the elbow injury earlier this year.
The comeback would take place only in the playoffs in November.
But yesterday, the Swedish star announced on Instagram that she has made the quick decision to return to Naples and swim in her team Energy Standards for the remaining two matches.
– I went home two weeks ago and then the plan was that I would only train during September and October. But I did an X-ray of my elbow about a week ago and since then the training has felt good. I longed to compete again, she tells TT.
Sjöström swam 50 meters free as the only individual distance on the first day of competition. There, she was up against the Australian Emma McKeon, who took Olympic gold in Tokyo on the distance (then in the long distance) before just Sjöström who took an impressive silver despite the injury background.
Now she defeated McKeon in the short course, but still got defeated. Abbey Weitzeil, USA, broke the American record with one hundredth and surprisingly won at 23.44 – three hundredths ahead of Sjöström.
Emma McKeon finished third at 23.65. The Australian became historic at the Olympics in Tokyo when she was the first female swimmer to win seven medals, four of which were gold.
– Abbey broke American record, then I was a bit over my best time, but considering the conditions I had, I am satisfied. I know I can do much better. I have had a tough training schedule for two weeks at home and hope to be able to compete in shape and get down to the same times I had two weeks ago, says Sjöström who then did 23.17 in the 50 meter freestyle.
It was the first time this ISL season that Sjöström was beaten in the distance.
The match ends on Sunday.
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