PHOTO: Bildbyrån
At the time, the broken elbow was the worst thing that could happen – in retrospect, something that probably prolongs the career.
Swimming star Sarah Sjöström says:
– It gave me a different perspective, I learned to find a kind of harmony.
The Olympic year 2024 begins with the WC in Doha and the start could be golden with the Swedish star as the big favorite in the 50 meter freestyle and 50 meter butterfly. In the Olympic year 2021, she was at this time in February newly operated in hospital.
The nightmare had happened. The Olympic gold medal Sarah Sjostrom had slipped on a patch of ice in a wintry Stockholm and broken his elbow. Just over five months before the Olympics in Tokyo.
Not only did she make it back, against all odds she also took a silver in the 50 meter freestyle. But injury-free, she might have already boasted her second Olympic gold and her first in free swimming.
Sjöström’s words
However, the career might have come to an end. Now it is far from over and the year after the Tokyo Games she opened to swim the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
The article continues below.
Thanks to the injury. Because with a little perspective on things, it was during the rehabilitation in 2021 that new things emerged.
– I remember that period well, even though I was injured, it was a fun training period. I didn’t think much about the Olympics then, but just about taking a step forward all the time, says Sjöström.
– It feels like you got a different perspective, I learned to find a kind of harmony and I learned not to force anything, she says.
She has carried that philosophy with her.
“Could have stopped”
Harmony has characterized Sjöström in recent years. She is enjoying life as a swimmer in a different way where she not only came back from the severe injury – but also continues to develop.
On the way to the historic 21st World Cup gold last year, the swimming queen broke the world record in the 50 meter freestyle. Her first world record in six years.
– I could have quit today and been really happy with my career. But I feel like I’m enjoying this lifestyle. I want to find ways to become even better, but I don’t feel stressed that I have to achieve different things, says Sjöström, who during 16 years at the top of the world won everything.
The article continues below.
Sjöström also lifts the team around her.
– They lay out the plan and help me when I have to accelerate and slow down the investment. When I broke my elbow it was on a Saturday and on Monday there was a plan for me.
The Olympics is the big goal this year, but the WC is also important and Sjöström is peaked before the championship.
She only swims the final part and during four intense days at the end of next week will swim three individual events – 50 meter freestyle and 50 meter butterfly where she is the big favorite and 100 meter freestyle where she is a medal outsider.
Surely Sarah Sjöström is one of our very best athletes ever? Share the article and have your say!
READ MORE: The unexpected news: Armand Duplantis can now get a piece of the Eiffel Tower(!) during the 2024 Summer Olympics
2021 Olympics: Silver in 50 meter freestyle.
Short Track EC 2021: 4 gold (50 and 100 meter freestyle, 50 and 100 meter butterfly), 1 silver (4×50 meter medley), 1 bronze (100 meter medley).
Short Track WC 2021: 3 gold (50 meter freestyle, 4×50 meter medley, 4×100 meter medley), 3 silver (50 meter butterfly, 100 meter freestyle, 4×50 meter freestyle), 1 bronze (4×100 meter freestyle).
WC 2022: 2 gold (50 meter freestyle and 50 meter butterfly), 1 silver (100 meter freestyle).
European Championship 2022: 3 gold (50 meter freestyle and 50 meter butterfly, 4×100 meter medley), 1 silver (4×100 meter freestyle), 1 bronze (4×100 meter freestyle mixed).
WC 2023: 2 gold (50 meter freestyle and 50 meter butterfly).
Sign up for our newsletter
Share