– Before the Olympics in Rio, I led by one and a half seconds compared to my competitors in the 100 meter butterfly. This time, however, I am about two seconds behind, Sjöström continues.
Despite this, the Swedish swimming star sounds more optimistic than she has previously done when it comes to an Olympic start of 100 meters butterfly swimming.
– If I choose to line up, 100 butterfly this time will be a different challenge, but in a longer perspective I may need that challenge. For the Olympics is not my last competition. I plan to swim a large number of championships before my career is over, says Sarah Sjöström.
– In a way, I am also curious to see how far I can go despite the conditions, and above all I do not want to have to go around afterwards and think about how it would have gone if I had lined up.
At the same time, she is careful to emphasize that she has not made up her mind.
– I am on the starting list for 100 meters butterfly swimming, and I simply get to see how it feels during the camp. I do not intend to rush the decision but let it take time, says Sarah Sjöström.
On Monday Sarah Sjöström begins the Olympic upload in earnest. Together with other swimmers in the Swedish Olympic team, she then travels to the camp in Fukuoka.
During the camp, details must be refined and decisions about branches made. Should she be content with only swimming 50 and 100 meters freestyle individually, or will it be a start even on 100 meters butterfly?
– You could say that 100 meters butterfly swimming is my new 200 meter freestyle – you never know what will happen, Sarah Sjöström answers with a laugh.
After the Olympic silver in the 200 meter freestyle in 2016, Sarah made it clear that it was her last championship race in that branch, but three years later in the WC she made a very thoughtful comeback. It ended with a bronze medal.
At the Olympics in Tokyo, 200 meters freestyle is not relevant. Now it is instead 100 meters of butterfly swimming that causes headaches.
The reason for Sarah Sjöström’s hesitation is the serious elbow fracture she suffered after a slippery accident in February. The injury affects her butterfly swimming technique significantly more than her freestyle swimming technique.
When she swims a butterfly, she has to pull the same amount with both arms at the same time. Which makes it clearer that she does not yet have full strength in her right arm.
When Sjöström made her competition comeback in Canet 1-2 June, she only competed in the 50 and 100 meter freestyle.
In her second – and last – competition before the Olympics during the midsummer weekend in Rome, however, she swam 100 meters butterfly. It ended in victory. Her victory time of 57.65 was a clearly approved time considering the conditions, but still a good distance from the swimmers at the top of the world year best list.
The trials of 100 meters butterfly swimming will be decided on Saturday 24 July in the Olympic pool in Tokyo.
–
