Sarah Sjostrom Wins Twice to Open Swedish Championships

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

The 2019 Swedish Swimming Championships started with a bang on Friday as Sarah Sjostrom won two events.

Sjostrom opened with a win in the 200 free, winning in 1:57.06. As she prepares for the World Championships in Gwangju, she was in strong form, winning by more than six seconds.

It was far from her best time of 1:54.09 that is the national record set at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

LIVE RESULTS

Sjostrom then won the 50 backstroke, an event not in her usual arsenal, though she holds the national record (27.80). She won the race in 28.52.

Sophie Hansson won the 200 breast in 2:27.64 to open her meet in strong fashion.

In the men’s race, Erik Persson won the 200 breast in 2:11.11.

Christoffer Carlsen won the 100 free in 49.98, the only in the field under 50.

Samuel Tornquist also earned a victory, winning the 200 fly in 2:02.64.

Sarah Sjostrom is already on the worlds team, which was announced in April. leads the field and is expected to be one of the highest-scoring athletes at the world championships.

Meanwhile, sisters Louise Hansson and Sophie Hansson also were selected for the team. Both are coming off of fantastic performances at the NCAA championships.

The Swedish roster consists of seven swimmers:

Swimmers

Michelle Coleman, Spårvägens S
Hanna Eriksson, Jönköpings SS
Sophie Hansson, Helsingborgs S
Louise Hansson, Helsingborgs S
Erik Persson, Kungsbacka SS
Simon Sjödin, SK Neptun
Sarah Sjostrom, Södertörns SS

Coach: Ulrika Sandmark

Sjostrom was named the Swedish Female Athlete of the Year as well as the European Female Swimmer of the Year in 2018.

Louise Hansson had a record-breaking performance at the NCAA championships in March. She swam the fastest time ever in the 100 fly (SCY). She broke her own NCAA and US Open Record with a 49.26, lowering her 49.34 she set at Pac-12’s earlier in the meet.

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