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She is the greatest athlete we've had

Martina Aronsson was present when 14-year-old Sarah Sjöström won the European Championship gold on 100 butterfly. 16 years later, she tries to take in what has happened. She is the greatest female athlete we have had in Sweden, says the swimming federation captain.

» Updated: 01 August 2024, 11:05

» Published: 31 July 2024

She is the greatest athlete we've had
Photo: Jessica Gow

Aronsson is so overwhelmed that she's shaking lightly after the championship race on 100 meters freestyle in La Défense Arena.

To get to be part of when she decided to do this race and how she carries it all the way. It feels incredible.

I'm out of words.

Sjöström broke through on the international scene on March 22, 2008, when she took her first championship gold. Already in the semifinal, she beat Anna-Karin Kammerling's Swedish record when she swam in 58.38 seconds.

"This beats Eindhoven"

Is this your strongest experience of Sarah Sjöström?

This is the strongest for me because I wasn't part of the other medals. I was in Eindhoven in 2008, but this beats Eindhoven.

What impresses you the most, apart from the gold?

That she does it. She hesitated at the beginning of the week. The mental strength, when you hesitate for a moment. But she had decided, we had decided, and so she does it. That's what I'm most impressed by.

There are some unique people, one in a million, and we have one. To be able to do this time and time again and believe in it. She has done an incredible job all year and it showed that she can swim 100 meters freestyle.

Inspires the entire team

The entire coach team has done an incredible job. We have all supported her in her decision, because it takes courage.

Martina Aronsson is convinced that Sjöström's gold will inspire other Swedish Olympic athletes.

For us in the swim team, this is a huge boost, and I think also for the entire Swedish OS team. This is the first OS gold, it means a lot. It has been an incredibly good start for Sweden – and this is the top, she says.

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By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

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