On Thursday night, Sarah Sjöström hit a real cannon time when she swam her second fastest race so far in the 50 meter freestyle in short track.
On Friday night, when this match was to be decided, the double distance was first on Sjöström’s big program.
The 28-year-old Swede finished second in the race behind teammate Siobhan Haughey after Sjöström once again answered for a strong finish.
At 50 meters butterfly swimming was Sarah Sjöström as usual unthreatened. With a victory time of 24.75, she was 25 hundredths faster than runner-up Holly Barratt.
Sjöström then finished Friday night with a so-called shine competition – where half the starting field is knocked out in two rounds until there is only one final left between two swimmers.
Between each race there are only a few minutes, which makes it a real challenge for the swimmers who have to find a way to use their powers in the right way.
Sjöström was fastest in both the first and the second round. In the final, she faced Toronto’s Kaisa Wasick.
Wasick got off to a good start, but as usual Sarah Sjöström was the strongest in the final 25 meters and won.
– This was fun. It is not easy, but I am used to running such frequent races, she said in the victory interview immediately after the race.
Energy Standard won the second playoff round by far, and Sjöström also became this match’s most valuable swimmer by collecting the most points.
Toronto Titans, with the two Swedish swimmers Louise Hansson and Michelle Coleman in the team, finished second.
On Friday night, Toronto had to do without Louise Hansson who had swum really well on Thursday when she beat Sarah Sjöström in the 100 meter butterfly.
This weekend Louise Hansson is competing in the British School Championships (BUCS). As she is studying at Loughborough University, participation in the championship is mandatory for her.
Louise Hansson returns to Eindhoven next week and will swim for Toronto in the team’s final playoff game next weekend.
With Friday night’s second place, Toronto still has the chance to reach the final.
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