Sarah Sjöström Scares 50m Free World Record, Drops 23.83 In Stockholm
Sarah Sjöström Scares 50m Free World Record, Drops 23.83 In Stockholm
Sarah Sjöström of Sweden scared the world record in the 50m freestyle in Stockholm Monday with a 23.83. Her time is a new Swedish National record and the second-fastest performance of all time behind Britta Steffen of Germany.
Sarah Sjöström is ON FIRE at the Swim Open Stockholm. On Monday, the Swedish superstar unloaded a 23.83 in the 50m freestyle. That swim means a few different things within the history of the event:
1.) It is the second-fastest performance of all-time. Only Germany's Britta Steffen has been faster with a 23.73 from the 2009 World Championships in Rome. Note: Steffen's swim was done in a polyurethane "super-suit."
2.) It makes Sjöström the second-fastest performer of all-time.
3.) Her time of 23.83 is a new Swedish National record, breaking Therese Alshammar's record of 23.88 from the 2009 World Championships in Rome.
Sjöström's previous best time was a 23.98 from the 2014 Swedish Nationals/European Championship Trials in Borås, Sweden.
In case you were wondering, the answer is yes: the pool was, in fact, 50 meters long. Not like the one pictured below that Sjöström was "training" in earlier in the season.
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BM8OuOkAEk0/?taken-by=sarahsjostrom" hide_caption="0"]
There were certainly other swimmers not named Sarah Sjöström that had standout performances in Stockholm on Monday.
David Verrastó of Hungary dropped a smooth 4:10.21 in the 400m IM -- the second fastest performance in 2017. Who is ahead of him? David Verrastó. Yes, Verrastó owns the two fastest performances of the year. He posted a 4:10.01 back in March. Talk about consistency. The Hungarian is looking very strong going into the World Championships which well be held in his own backyard later this summer.
Another Hungarian, Katinka Hosszu, had a strong showing Monday as well. She did not necessarily post any world bests, but the Iron Lady showed off the kind of shape she is in and where she is in her preparation for the World Championships in July.
Hosszu swam three events on Monday night -- the 400m freestyle, 200m backstroke, and 200m IM. In the 400m free, Hosszu posted a 4:11.52 -- nothing spectacular, but certainly a strong training tool for her 400 IM. Of note, Sarah Köhler of Germany won the event with a very strong 4:06.72 -- the second fastest performance in the world this year.
With very little turnaround, Hosszu hopped back in the pool to take the 200m backstroke title with a 2:12.93. Her most impressive swim of the night came in her third and final swim, the 200 IM. Hosszu posted a swift 2:11.87 to take the win in Stockholm. Not too shabby considering her lineup. That does not come as much of a surprise, however, as that is exactly how Hosszu earned her nickname -- Iron Lady. The Hungarian has been known throughout her career to take on a brutal racing schedule throughout the season.
1.) It is the second-fastest performance of all-time. Only Germany's Britta Steffen has been faster with a 23.73 from the 2009 World Championships in Rome. Note: Steffen's swim was done in a polyurethane "super-suit."
2.) It makes Sjöström the second-fastest performer of all-time.
3.) Her time of 23.83 is a new Swedish National record, breaking Therese Alshammar's record of 23.88 from the 2009 World Championships in Rome.
Sjöström's previous best time was a 23.98 from the 2014 Swedish Nationals/European Championship Trials in Borås, Sweden.
In case you were wondering, the answer is yes: the pool was, in fact, 50 meters long. Not like the one pictured below that Sjöström was "training" in earlier in the season.
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BM8OuOkAEk0/?taken-by=sarahsjostrom" hide_caption="0"]
There were certainly other swimmers not named Sarah Sjöström that had standout performances in Stockholm on Monday.
David Verrastó of Hungary dropped a smooth 4:10.21 in the 400m IM -- the second fastest performance in 2017. Who is ahead of him? David Verrastó. Yes, Verrastó owns the two fastest performances of the year. He posted a 4:10.01 back in March. Talk about consistency. The Hungarian is looking very strong going into the World Championships which well be held in his own backyard later this summer.
Another Hungarian, Katinka Hosszu, had a strong showing Monday as well. She did not necessarily post any world bests, but the Iron Lady showed off the kind of shape she is in and where she is in her preparation for the World Championships in July.
Hosszu swam three events on Monday night -- the 400m freestyle, 200m backstroke, and 200m IM. In the 400m free, Hosszu posted a 4:11.52 -- nothing spectacular, but certainly a strong training tool for her 400 IM. Of note, Sarah Köhler of Germany won the event with a very strong 4:06.72 -- the second fastest performance in the world this year.
With very little turnaround, Hosszu hopped back in the pool to take the 200m backstroke title with a 2:12.93. Her most impressive swim of the night came in her third and final swim, the 200 IM. Hosszu posted a swift 2:11.87 to take the win in Stockholm. Not too shabby considering her lineup. That does not come as much of a surprise, however, as that is exactly how Hosszu earned her nickname -- Iron Lady. The Hungarian has been known throughout her career to take on a brutal racing schedule throughout the season.