Have yourself a meet, Sarah Sjöström... The Swedish sensation has lit the pool in Stockholm ablaze this week with some incredibly fast performances. Her most notable swims included: a stellar 56.26 in the 100m butterfly on Sunday, an even more impressive 23.83 in the 50m freestyle on Monday, and finally a huge 52.54 in the 100m freestyle on Tuesday -- the fastest time in the world in 2017.
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Here are Sjöström's splits compared to Cate Campbell's (Australia) world record from July of 2016:
Sjöström: (25.17)(27.37) -- 52.54
Campbell: (24.89)(27.17) -- 52.06
Just like her 50m freestyle Monday night, Sjöström's time of 52.54 in the 100 carries a lot of significance in the context of the history of the event.
1.) It makes her the fourth-fastest performer of all-time behind Britta Steffen (Germany) and Australian sisters Cate Campbell and Bronte Campbell.
2.) It gives her the 10th fastest performance of all-time behind the aforementioned women.
3.) It is a new Swedish National record -- Sjöström owned the previous record of 52.67 set at the 2014 European Championships in Berlin.
Australia's Cate Campbell still holds the world record with a 52.06 set at the Swimming Australia Grand Prix in Brisbane, just a month before the 2016 Olympic Games. Unfortunately, Campbell was unable to replicate her performance in Rio as she settled for a disappointing 6th place finish in 53.24.
Also of note, Sjöström's time of 52.54 is faster than the 52.70 it took to win the Olympic gold medal in Rio -- which Simone Manuel and Penny Oleksiak tied for. Sjöström picked up the bronze with a 52.99.
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Here are Sjöström's splits compared to Cate Campbell's (Australia) world record from July of 2016:
Sjöström: (25.17)(27.37) -- 52.54
Campbell: (24.89)(27.17) -- 52.06
Just like her 50m freestyle Monday night, Sjöström's time of 52.54 in the 100 carries a lot of significance in the context of the history of the event.
1.) It makes her the fourth-fastest performer of all-time behind Britta Steffen (Germany) and Australian sisters Cate Campbell and Bronte Campbell.
2.) It gives her the 10th fastest performance of all-time behind the aforementioned women.
3.) It is a new Swedish National record -- Sjöström owned the previous record of 52.67 set at the 2014 European Championships in Berlin.
Australia's Cate Campbell still holds the world record with a 52.06 set at the Swimming Australia Grand Prix in Brisbane, just a month before the 2016 Olympic Games. Unfortunately, Campbell was unable to replicate her performance in Rio as she settled for a disappointing 6th place finish in 53.24.
Also of note, Sjöström's time of 52.54 is faster than the 52.70 it took to win the Olympic gold medal in Rio -- which Simone Manuel and Penny Oleksiak tied for. Sjöström picked up the bronze with a 52.99.