New Olympic gold for Sjöström: “It feels surreal”

The margin of victory for silver medalist Meg Harris, Australia, was 26 hundredths. Zhang Yufei, China, took bronze. Sjöström was the favorite before Sunday’s final and many thought she would beat her own world record (23.61) after setting an Olympic record (23.66) in Saturday’s one semifinal.

Now the clock stopped at 23.71.

A mistake in the rise after the start meant she could not challenge her own world record.

My first swim was really bad. But I knew before that even if I make some mistakes, I have a really high level. I went in with confidence and the belief that I could do under 24 seconds, she says.

“This is my peak”

It is the 38th time that she has set a time under 24 seconds – something that has made Sjöström completely superior at the distance where she has won four WC gold medals, three of them in a row.

Now came the perfect hit in the Olympics as well.

Sjöström has previously talked about making a sixth Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.

You never know what will happen, but I will never be better than I am now. This is my peak. I am so proud, she says and continues:

I will continue to swim for several years, but I will never beat this, she says of the achievement with two golds in Paris.

Medal from Lindberg

Sarah Sjöström stepped onto the podium and received the gold medal from Swedish IOC member Gunilla Lindberg.

Sjöström now has a total of six Olympic medals, three of which are gold, and Sweden’s best swimmer of all time is now also the best “blue-and-yellow” Olympic swimmer in history.

The duo Gunnar Larsson and Håkan Malmrot have two Olympic golds each.

With this year’s two golds, Sarah Sjöström also takes the step up to shared first place among Swedish female athletes with the most Olympic golds. She now shares first place with canoeist Agneta Andersson and cross-country skier Charlotte Kalla.

Sjöström’s world record in the 50 freestyle was set during the WC in Fukuoka, Japan, last summer.