Sjöström swam the heats at the Olympic venue in Paris in 25.40, 35 hundredths of a second slower than the sensational time she recorded in Rome in June in her only competition so far after her comeback in the 50-metre butterfly.
Sjöström was 17 hundredths ahead of Belgian Roos Vanotterdijk, who swam in another heat.
It had been 737 days since Sjöström's last championship race - the gold in the 50-metre freestyle, which came after the emphatic gold in the 100-metre freestyle.
Now in Paris La Défense Arena, around ten kilometres from the venue used in the European Championships.
It's always nice to get started with the first race so it was pretty much as I expected, says Sjöström.
“Better feeling”
She has her family with her in Paris, her soon-to-be one-year-old son Adrian and her husband Johan. But she described the morning as “ordinary”:
I woke up in the morning, had breakfast, drank coffee, put on my suit, jumped in and swam, and then I finished.
Was it nerve-racking?
"There are always some kind of nerves, but my body is so used to it. It felt good, but with every race I do, I will get a better feeling," she says.
I'll talk to the coach (Antonio Lutula), I'm convinced there are many pieces to work on, she adds.
Junevik in the semifinals
The semi-finals will be decided on Tuesday evening and the final on Wednesday.
Also swimming in the semifinals is Sara Junevik, who had the fifth-fastest time of 25.86.
However, Louise Hansson was eliminated despite finishing eighth with a time of 26.06. The regulations in the European Championships only allow two from each nation to advance from the heats.
Sara Junevik is the reigning champion in the event after winning the European Championships in Belgrade in 2024, a championship that was held in the weeks before the Olympics and did not attract the biggest stars.
Born: August 17, 1993 (age 32).
Family: Married to Johan de Jong Skierus, son Adrian, almost a year old.
Main achievements, Olympics: 3 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze, World Championships (long course): 14 gold, 8 silver, 3 bronze, World Championships (short course): 6 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze, European Championships (long course): 17 gold, 7 silver, 4 bronze, European Championships (short course): 12 gold, 13 silver, 1 bronze.
