Sarah Sjöström started the Olympic year 2024 as a winner.
She qualified for the 50 meter butterfly at the Euro Meet in Luxembourg ahead of national team mate Sara Junevik.
Sjöström’s winning time was 25.23 – 49 hundredths above her WC gold time last year – and Junevik was almost a second behind at 26.22.
In just over two weeks, the first championship of the year awaits when the WC is decided in Doha, Qatar, but the highlight of the year will of course be the Olympics in Paris at the turn of July-August.
There, the 50-meter freestyle will be Sjöström’s main focus, as the 50-meter butterfly is not included in the Olympic program.
Sarah Sjöström won double World Championship gold in the 50-meter freestyle (where she also broke the world record) and 50-meter butterfly last year, and earlier this week received the award as female athlete of the year at the Sports Gala for the sixth time.
GÖRAN SUNDBERG/TT
Share