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2016 Swedish Nationals Day 3: Sjostrom Scorches to 50 Free Win in 24.2

2016 SWEDISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Day 3 of the 2016 Swedish Nationals brought plenty of exciting sprint action, including another win by Sarah Sjostrom in the women’s 50 free. Sjostrom hit the wall in 24.20 to give herself a 3rd individual title in as many days at this meet. That time was narrowly off her season best 24.17 from Austin Pro Swim, which currently ranks her 3rd in the world. Sjostrom wasn’t alone under the 25 second barrier, as 2nd place Therese Alshammar cleared that mark with a 24.91.

Some fast swimming on the men’s side brought a new meet record in the 50 breast final. Johannes Skagius cleared that mark, which he’d set at 27.86 in 2014. His 27.74 today knocked a tenth off of that and gave him a clear lead over Jacob Zeidler (28.52) and Erik Persson (28.84).

Stina Gardell, a former collegiate swimmer at USC, handily won the women’s 400 IM. Gardell built a 10 second lead throughout the race, touching in 4:47.55 to claim victory. Jaqueline Hopi (4:58.06) and Frida Berggren (4:58.20) also swam sub-5:00 to take 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

Today’s relay for the men was the 4×100 medley, which was won by SK Neptun in 3:42.73. The team got off to a fast start with Gustav Hokfelt‘s 55.86 backstroke leg, and Simon Sjodin gave the team a major edge with his fly split, rolling to a 52.60. The 2nd place team, Helsingborgs S, was a couple seconds behind in 3:44.77 after Isaak Eliasson gave them the only sub-50 split with his 49.96.

Sparvagen SF took control of the women’s 4×200 free relay, setting a new Swedish Record of 8:06.00 on their way to gold. Michelle Coleman, the 2nd place finisher behind Sjostrom in the individual 200 free, was in a league of her own on the leadoff leg, clocking a 1:56.46. The only other sub-2:00 split came from Sjostrom, who swam a 1:54.71 on the 2nd leg for Sodertorns SS.

Event Winners

  • Men’s 50 Breast: Johannes Skagius, 27.74
  • Women’s 400 IM: Stina Gardell, 4:47.55
  • Men’s 50 Back: Stefan Stojmenovic, 26.15
  • Women’s 50 Free: Sarah Sjostrom, 24.20
  • Men’s 400 Free: Adam Paulsson, 3:53.19
  • Women’s 100 Back: Ida Lindborg, 1:02.11
  • Men’s 4×100 Medley Relay: SK Neptun, 3:42.73
  • Women’s 4×200 Free Relay: Sparvagen SF, 8:06.00

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bobo gigi
8 years ago

Yes 100free, she’s a very special talent. That kind of talent can almost swim everything maybe apart from breaststroke. I’m pretty sure she could have a big 200 back, a big 200 fly or even a big 400 free too. But it requires much work and a different training.
She still has to win an olympic gold medal. History is made at olympic games.
Unless she’s stung by a mosquito or is poisoned in Rio, she will easily win the 100 fly with a new world record. Then it will be icing on the cake. If she thinks she can win the 200 free she must swim it, without fear. I really hope she swims it. A final… Read more »

Myth Destroyer
Reply to  bobo gigi
8 years ago

Finally you changed your opinion and are admitting that Sarah should swim 200 free!
Because this is definitely not what you were saying just a month ago! 😀

samuel huntington
Reply to  bobo gigi
8 years ago

I’m sorry including Missy with those other names is just silly. And where is McKeon??

Caleb
Reply to  samuel huntington
8 years ago

Behind

commonwombat
Reply to  Caleb
8 years ago

Not necessarily but it is fair to say that her intl CV is not yet at the level of those rated ahead of her therefore its fair to rate her as more of an outside contender than a front line one.

robbos
Reply to  Caleb
8 years ago

Emma, changed coaches recently (last year after WC I think), to the coach that currently has most Aussie Olympians. At the trials, in which she swam her best times in 100& 200 Free & 100 Butt, she was asked if she was happy with her swims, she said she expected to swim these times 2 years ago.
She lacked confidence in previous years & has shown maturity lately & after a 2.07 200 butt is also trying to add endurance to her speed.
She is used to swim against great swimmers, she took on the might of the Campbell sisters in the 100 trials & nearly upset them.She is one to watch as a spoiler in this Kate,… Read more »

Stephen
Reply to  samuel huntington
8 years ago

Bobo doesn’t ever get the Aussie results. Not sure he knows who McKeon is

Jackie Chan
Reply to  bobo gigi
8 years ago

If Sarah is too fatigued to swim 100 free in Rio, she should not swim it, call it a day and head off to Copacabana beach for some relaxing.

100free
8 years ago

Sjostrom is so impressive. Even though this isn’t a time to write home about vis-a-vis her own PB or the Campbells, etc., the range of her talent is incredible. World class in 50-200 frees (400 arguably if she focused more on it), 50-100 fly, 100 back. I’d really like to see what she could do in the 200 IM. She reminds me of the modern-day Natalie — who is/was not only world class in the 50-200 frees, 100 fly, 50-100 back, and 200 IM, but also has international medals in all of the above.

Myth Destroyer
Reply to  100free
8 years ago

Coughlin does not have international medal in 200 free. Unless you count 4×200

100free
Reply to  Myth Destroyer
8 years ago

Touché! However I’d take leading off the 4×200 relay in a time that would’ve won the individual 200 at least a bronze. 😉

Myth Destroyer
Reply to  100free
8 years ago

Sure. I would take it too. Coughlin leading off 4×200 Athens was the fastest of the year. But many commenters also don’t think Sjostrom should or can successfully do fast 3 rounds of 200 in Rio, even if she has the fastest 200 in 2014, 2015 and 2016 so far.

Finnshswimfan
Reply to  Myth Destroyer
8 years ago

What would this opinion be based upon? I don’t think she’d have to swim all that hard in heats.

Myth Destroyer
Reply to  Finnshswimfan
8 years ago

Certainly not based on facts.

If you want to know, you need to ask Bobo. He thinks Sjostrom should not swim 200.

https://staging.swimswam.com/sjostrom-rocks-154-34-200-free-day-1-swedish-championships/

Joe
Reply to  100free
8 years ago

FWIW, Sarah’s 4.06 in the 400 free the other year is pretty close to olympic final calibre and probably a better race than her 100 back. Given her improvements in the 200/overall aswell, I think she could probably dust off a 4.03-4.04 time just about anytime these days.

I just think the problem with the IM is that she never swum breaststroke, like ever. She literally has one(1) breaststroke time registered, from 2007. Not that she swims the 100 backstroke much(once or twice a year?) either. And also the fact that she has five set events that make no sense to scratch make other events unlikely at a bigger stage. She did give the 200 fly a brief go… Read more »

Joe
Reply to  Joe
8 years ago

Oh yeah, Sarahs 50 back is pretty good too. She holds the NR.

Finnshswimfan
Reply to  Joe
8 years ago

She’s done 31 low in 50br SC, in 2011. Will remember that she actually won Swedish 25m Championship with that 🙂 Could remember wrong, though. Regardless, she wasn’t that great at walls back in 2011, so my guess is that she’d be pretty fast in IM breast…

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Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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