Sarah Sjostrom Contemplating Olympic Program; Defense of 100 Butterfly Title Still Uncertain

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Sarah Sjostrom Contemplating Olympic Program; Defense of 100 Butterfly Title Still Uncertain

Coming off a solid weekend performance at the Sette Colli meet in Italy, Olympic champion and world-record holder Sarah Sjostrom is in contemplation mode. With the Olympic Games in Tokyo less than a month away, the Swede is in the process of finalizing her program. The big question: Will Sjostrom defend her title in the 100-meter butterfly?

After fracturing her elbow earlier this year in a fall, Sjostrom has gradually worked her way back into form. She initially returned to the sprint-freestyle events and has recently added the butterfly to her racing schedule. Still, freestyle has come easier following her injury and Sjostrom must decide if the 100 butterfly will be a worthwhile pursuit in Japan.

“It was a long way back,” Sjostrom said of her rehab. “When I took my first strokes after the surgery, I was like, ‘I can’t do this anymore. I can’t see myself swimming butterfly again.’ It was just impossible. … I did a lot of single-arm swimming in the beginning, just to do something.”

Sjostrom is the world-record holder in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 50 butterfly and 100 butterfly. If she chooses to race three events in Tokyo (the 50 fly is not an Olympic event), her schedule will be more demanding than if she opts out of the 100 fly. In Italy, Sjostrom won the 100 fly, but was two seconds off her world record.

“I’m definitely not convinced to swim the 100 fly after that race,” Sjöström said. “I felt absolutely exhausted.”

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