Sarah Sjöström is one of all the swimming stars who chose to compete in Rome instead of the European Championships in order to save energy for the season’s big investment with the Olympics in Paris.
– Swimming under 25 seconds is always great and even though I know it’s not an Olympic distance, I know that if I’m fast in the 50 butterfly, it usually goes fast in the freestyle, says Sjöström, who usually has Rome as the last stop before championships .
On Saturday, Sjöström swims 100 m freestyle and on Sunday she swims 50 m freestyle.
Three tenths off his own world record
She smiled and raised her arm in a victory gesture after the race, which set a championship record in the 60th edition of the event. Sjöström’s own world record is 24.43.
Japan’s Rikako Ikee was a distant second in 25.63.
Louise Hansson was fourth in 26.10 and Michelle Coleman fifth in 26.20.
– I had hoped for a little more, says Coleman.
The competition in Rome runs parallel to the EC in Belgrade. There, Sara Junevik won the same event in 25.68.
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Sarah Sjöström happy after victory in the 50 meter butterfly in Rome. Photo: Maxim Thore / BILDBYRÅN