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Sarah Sjostrom Enters 5 Events, Including 200 Free, at 2019 World Championships

Swedish swimmer Sarah Sjostrom has entered 5 individual events for the 2019 World Championships, including the 200 free.

While Sjostrom was the 2016 Olympic silver medalist in the 200 free, she’s had a love-hate relationship with the event throughout her career. She’s the 4th-fastest performer in the history of the event, though she told SwimSwam in May that she was “probably not” going to swim the 200 free at the World Championships.

Her entry in the race doesn’t guarantee her participation in the event either. She didn’t swim the race at the 2017 World Championships, and her entry probably didn’t block another Swede from entering (Michelle Coleman is Sweden’s 2nd entry).

Her other 4 events were more predictable: she’s also entered in the 50 free, 100 free, 50 fly, and 100 fly. At the 2017 World Championships, she won individual gold in the 50 free, 50 fly, and 100 fly; plus a silver in the 100 free.

If Sweden swims the same 2 relays, the 400 free relay and 400 medley relay, here is what a potential Sjostrom schedule at Worlds could look  like. Sweden also swam a mixed 400 medley relay, though it was disqualified in prelims (without Sjostrom on the team):

Sunday, July 21st

Morning session

  • 100 fly – heats
  • 400 free relay – heats

Afternoon session

  • 100 fly – semifinals
  • 400 free relay – finals

Monday, July 22nd

Morning session

  • OFF

Afternoon session

  • 100 fly – finals

Tuesday, July 23rd

Morning session

  • 200 free – heats

Afternoon session

  • 200 free – semifinals

Wednesday, July 24th

Morning session

  • Mixed medley relay – prelims

Afternoon session

  • 200 free – finals
  • Mixed medley relay – finals

Thursday, July 25th

Morning session

  • 100 free – heats

Afternoon session

  • 100 free – semifinals

Friday, July 26th

Morning session

  • 50 fly – heats

Afternoon session

  • 100 free – finals
  • 50 fly – semifinals

Saturday, July 27th

Morning session

  • 50 free – heats

Afternoon session

  • 50 fly – finals
  • 50 free – semifinals

Sunday, July 28th

Morning session

  • 400 medley relay – prelims

Afternoon session

  • 100 free – finals
  • 400 medley relay – finals

 

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Texas Tap Water
5 years ago

Swimming all relay prelims and finals is what killed her in Rio. She could have won 50/100 free

Dan
Reply to  Texas Tap Water
5 years ago

Do not think the Swedish relays can make finals without her on the prelim relays

Dan
Reply to  Braden Keith
5 years ago

This is from a post back in April on the Swedish federation site, but they only intended to enter a relay in the 100 Free relay and 400 Medley relays (NO men’s relays, mixed relays or women’s 800 Free relay).

Iain
5 years ago

What is the source for this?

Heyitsme
Reply to  Braden Keith
5 years ago

Where is that

commonwombat
5 years ago

It would certainly add another level of confusion to what is already a nightmare race to predict should she swim the 200free.

As for relays, do we know if SWE will even contest the 2 mixed relays ? TBH, given her individual schedule; I’d only have her swim 4×100 & 4xMED.

Miguel
Reply to  commonwombat
5 years ago

Honestly don’t think that Sweden has a real shot for the mixed relays… thus do not see the need to fatigue Sjöström – let her have a real chance in medal at the 200 free. In my opinion this is a better hope to gain a medal more for Sweden instead of getting it from a mixed relay.

Dan
Reply to  Miguel
5 years ago

Top 12 relays from prelims qualify for the 2020 Olympics, if not they would have to swim fast at next year’s European champs and be Top 4 in the world of all countries not Top 12 at World Champs

Joe
Reply to  commonwombat
5 years ago

I have never seen Sweden compete with its best possible mixed team, and Sjostrom for sure has never swum it. The Swedish men are quite bad, not one world class 100m swimmer in any of the strokes.

James Hetfield
Reply to  commonwombat
5 years ago

Sweden only sends 2 male swimmers as far as I know, a 200 IMer and a 200 breaststroke, so unless they plan female backstroke and freestyle I would assume that they skip mixed relays.

Aquajosh
5 years ago

She’s totally swimming it. Has Sarah Sjostrom ever scratched an individual race at a major meet? She doesn’t seem like the type who would allow herself to be entered if she had no intention of swimming it.

Dan
Reply to  Aquajosh
5 years ago

Hope she scratches the 200 free, she would be need on the relays if Sweden is going to have any chance for finals and to qualify relays for the 2020 Olympics

Joe
Reply to  Dan
5 years ago

Who cares about freestyle relays when the 4th girl is not a sub55(sub56??) / 2.00 swimmers. That doesn’t cut it in 2019. Medley relay, sure.

Yozhik
5 years ago

That makes semi-final in 200free very dramatic. Especially for those who have doubles at this session like Ruck and Ledecky. There will be swimmers like Hosszu (if she doesn’t skip this event) who may not have chance for the podium but do want to swim in final race. Expect surprises.

Steve
5 years ago

There is no doubt that this heavy lineup will affect her performance in relays and she probably won’t swim mixed relays

fmku
Reply to  Steve
5 years ago

I would not be surprised if she ended up swimming only the medley relay. No way she swims mixed.

About Braden Keith

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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