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
Swimming all relay prelims and finals is what killed her in Rio. She could have won 50/100 free
Do not think the Swedish relays can make finals without her on the prelim relays
They did in the 400 medley at Worlds in 2017. This year, with the Hansson sisters swimming so well, they definitely could make that final without her.
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).
What is the source for this?
The entry lists to the meet.
Where is that @Braden Keith
We’re posting them this morning. Doing some work to translate the headings and such, which are all in Korean.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
There is no doubt that this heavy lineup will affect her performance in relays and she probably won’t swim mixed relays
I would not be surprised if she ended up swimming only the medley relay. No way she swims mixed.