Sarah Sjostrom Sparkles in Stockholm, Posts No. 2 Time Ever in 50 Free

Jan 16, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Sarah Sjostrom looks on before competing women's 50 meter free final during the 2016 Arena Pro Swim Series at Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Courtesy: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Sarah Sjostrom has thrown down some remarkable performances over the first three days of the Stockholm Cup, but none were more impressive than her 23.83 in the 50 free on day three.

That time ranks as the second-fastest in history, and only Britta Steffen (23.73) has ever been faster. Steffen’s time came at the 2009 World Championships, during the era of high-tech bodysuits.

Sjostrom’s time would have won Olympic gold in the 50 free, well ahead of the 24.07 Pernille Blume swam to finish first in Rio. Sjostrom won three medals in Rio but was eliminated in the semifinals of the 50 free. Denmark’s Blume actually finished second behind Sjostrom in Stockholm in 24.15, and Belarus’ Rio bronze medalist Aliaksandra Herasimenia took third in 24.84.

Over the weekend in Stockholm, Sjostrom won the 100 fly in 56.26 and also topped the field in the 50 fly in 24.96. Both times rank as the No. 1 performances in the world so far this year. In fact, no other woman has ever swum faster than Sjostrom’s 50 fly time, and only she and Dana Vollmer have ever been quicker in the 100 fly.

On the men’s side, the top performance of the meet so far has come from Sweden’s Erik Persson, who won the 200 breast in 2:07.85, moving him into the all-time top 20 in the event. He ranks second in the world this year behind Yasuhiro Koseki’s world record of 2:06.67 from January.

Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu took on a busy schedule of events over the meet’s first three days. She won the 1500 free (16:22.30), 400 IM (4:40.90), 200 back (2:12.93) and 200 IM (2:11.87). She also finished second in the 200 free (1:57.01), 50 back (28.54), 100 back (1:00.59) and 400 free (4:06.72).

Sweden’s Michelle Coleman put up an impressive time of 1:55.64 in the 200 free to take down Hosszu and pass Federica Pellegrini (1:55.94) as the fastest swimmer in the world this year. Coleman later won the 100 back in 1:00.59.

Poland’s Wjceich Wodjak swept the men’s 400 free (3:47.16) and 1500 free (14:54.07), with Sweden’s Henrik Christiansen joining Wodjak under 15:00 in the longer race (14:59.56). Lithuania’s Danas Rapsys won three events on the weekend: the 200 back (1:57.08), 200 free (1:47.10) and 100 back (54.57).

Hungary’s David Verraszto won the men’s 400 IM in 4:10.21, just off his own season-best time of 4:10.01 that ranks first in the world this year. In the women’s breaststroke events, Sweden’s Jennie Johansson swam a quick 30.57 in the 50-meter event, and Denmark’s Rikke Moeller Pedersen hit the wall in 2:25.59 in the 200.

Other female winners so far have included Sweden’s Ida Lindborg in the 50 back (28.46) and Germany’s Sarah Kohler in the 400 free (4:06.72).

For the men, Belarus’ Yahor Dodaleu won the 50 fly (23.59), Lithuania’s Giedrius Titenis touched first in the 100 breast (1:00.15), Germany’s Phillip Heintz won the 100 fly (52.12), Sweden’s Gustav Hökfelt won the 50 back (25.34), Vietnam’s Quy Phuoc Honag broke 50 to win the 100 free (49.96), and Germany’s Tomoe Zenimoto Hvas finished first in the 200 fly (2:01.13).

Click here to find results from each event.

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Andreas Carlsen Johnsen

7 years ago

In the results of the 1500m race, you said “Swedens Henrik Christiansen”. For your information he is nativ Norwegian and is compiting for Norway not Sweden.

Andreas Carlsen Johnsen

7 years ago

And again Tomoe who won the 200 fly is Norwegian and compiting for Norway, not Germany

Joacim Fredriksson

7 years ago

The thing about Katinka Hosszu is that she is competing in ALL the womens events. 17 trials and (maybe) 17 finals. It might be some kind of record?

Shaheen Alghofari

7 years ago

Joe Stott

Midou Borab

7 years ago

Ha Dja

7 years ago

Reply to Midou Borab

Wooow c’est bien