Swedish star Sarah Sjostrom had an impressive 2014 winning the 200 freestyle as well as the 50 and 100 butterfly at the World Short Course Championships in Doha, setting new world records in both the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly at the same competition. She also earned a silver in the 100 freestyle.
At the European Championships in Berlin the Swede collected gold in the 100 freestyle, 50 butterfly and 4 x 100 freestyle relay along with silver in the 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 4 x 100 medley relay and the 4 x 200 freestyle relay.
Sjostrom was also the only European female to break a long course world record setting a new mark in the women’s 50 butterfly.
With her eyes not only set on the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, but the Rio Olympics in 2016 her and 11 other swimmers having started their 2015 season with a training camp in Rio.
Other swimmers at the camp include Michelle Coleman, who in 2014 broke the Swedish record in the short course 200 backstroke while collecting three relay medals at the European Championships and Simon Sjodin, who holds the Swedish records in the 200 butterfly and all of the IM events, both short course and long course.
With the Olympics only a year and a half away the Swedes are holding the camp in Rio to ensure that they are not only familiar with the facilities, but also the culture and ensure that they have a solid plan when it comes to logistics.
“The city is wonderful.One of the first things we noticed was that the Brazilians, people from Rio, do not worry too much about the accuracy of schedules,” Ulrika Sandmark who is in charge of the Swedish contingent at the camp, told O Globo.
This is the first time I have come to South America,” said Sjostrom.
“I could tell that the way of life of the people, the culture is different, as expected it.”
Sjostrom also talked about her goals for both Kazan and Rio, “Like Rio, I want to swim three or four individual events next year and the goal is to medal in all of them.”
There is also a team of German swimmers training in Rio as well.