Sjostrom Downs Championship Record In 50 Free, Now Owns 6/8 Fastest Swims Ever

2021 FINA SHORT COURSE SWIMMING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

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• Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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Sarah Sjostrom blasted her way to gold in the women’s 50 freestyle on the final night of competition in Abu Dhabi, putting up a time of 23.08 to break the Championship Record previously held by Ranomi Kromowidjojo.

Sjostrom’s time lowers Kromowidjojo’s CR of 23.19, set at the 2018 SC Worlds in Hangzhou, China.

Kromowidjojo, who came in having won gold in this event in four of the last five championships (and three in a row) won silver in 23.31.

Sjostrom finished .08 outside of her Swedish National Record, set in 2017, and ties her 23.08 from last month’s ISL playoffs as the fourth-fastest performance in history.

Incredibly, she now owns six of the eight fastest swims ever.

All-Time Performances, Women’s 50 Freestyle (SCM)

1. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED), 22.93 – 2017 FINA World Cup – Berlin
2. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 23.00 – 2017 FINA World Cup – Berlin
3. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED), 23.05 – 2020 Eindhoven SC Meet
4. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) / Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 23.08 – 2021 ISL Match 14 / 2021 SC Worlds
5. –
6. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 23.10 – 2017 FINA World Cup – Moscow
7. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 23.12 – 2021 ISL Match 16
8. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 23.17 – 2021 ISL Match 3
9. Cate Campbell (AUS) / Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED), 23.19 – 2017 Australian SC Champs / 2018 SC Worlds
10. –

Sjostrom’s victory marked her sixth medal of these championships, but her first individual gold. Prior to the 50 free win, the Swede had taken silver individually in both the 100 free and 50 fly, and added relay gold in the women’s 4×50 medley to go along with a silver in the 4×50 free and a bronze in the 4×100 free.

Minutes later, the 28-year-old was back in the water in the women’s 4×100 medley relay, splitting a scintillating 54.65 on the butterfly leg as Sweden won gold and smashed the European Record in a time of 3:46.20. That win gave Sjostrom seven medals for the competition.

This was also Sjostrom’s first individual SC World title since 2014, having opted not to compete in the 2016 or 2018 championships. In 2014, Sjostrom won individual gold in the women’s 200 free, 50 fly and 100 fly, and added a silver in the 100 free.