It had been two days since Sarah Sjöström won European Championship gold in the 50-meter butterfly in her comeback, less than a year after giving birth.
In the 50-meter freestyle, her comeback after giving birth has gone even better, and she is number one in Europe this year. But the competition in freestyle is also tougher.
"I feel much more comfortable with freestyle. Butterfly doesn't quite match rhythmically yet, between leg and arm strokes, but freestyle isn't so much about that, it's more about what shape I'm in or how fit I am," she says.
Surprise contender
Italian Sara Curtis, who set double world records in the 50-meter backstroke at the European Championships, and Dutchwoman Marrit Steenbergen, gold medallist in the 100-meter freestyle, are seen as the sharpest competitors and were tied for second in Europe by time before the European Championships.
Therefore, it was surprising that another Dutchwoman, Milou van Wijk, was fastest in the trials with 24.13. Van Wijk took silver in the 50-meter event.
“Fast girls”
Curtis (24.33) and Steenbergen (24.34) were third and fourth.
I already know that you can't focus on what times the others are swimming, but I look at my own times and then it doesn't really matter what the placement is. I'm just happy to be here, I say humbly, actually, says Sjöström and adds:
They are fast girls, but if I can just swim a little faster with each race, it's good for me.
The other Swedes, Sofia Åstedt (25.33), Sara Junevik (25.38) and Louise Hansson (25.78), were eliminated.
