Louise Hansson made it to the semifinal on 100 meters butterfly in the OS.
But first after great drama – she was disqualified on five different swim caps before the race.
It gives this little stress. The coach had to run and get a new one, she explains.
Hansson, World Championship bronze medalist in February, had the 12th time with her modest 57,57.
But the trouble with the swim caps affected her.
The drama took place in the call room, where the swimmers have the last little wait before the race.
I had brought five swim caps, so I was super prepared, I could have given almost the whole heat equipment, but I got no, no, no. So in the end, I had no swim cap, she explains.
A quick coach fetched one that was finally approved. Then it turned out that she had been stopped incorrectly.
She got a deduction on a small clothing brand logo on the back of the swim cap – which is actually approved.
I heard that Martina (the national team captain Aronsson) was talking to them, and we were the ones who were right, says Hansson.
Hansson must swim much faster in the semifinal to make it to the final. The competition on 100 meters butterfly is extremely tough, and Chinese Zhang Yufei was the fastest on 56,50.
She is one of the Chinese who tested positive for doping in 2021, but got off.
I need to swim on season best. I will treat it as a final tonight, says Hansson.
She swam on 56,94 when she took the World Championship bronze in February, and her personal record is 56,22 from the OS in Tokyo.