Hurry slowly. That will be the motto of the three-time Olympic champion as she returns to full training.
This is clear when TT meets Sarah Sjöström at home in the 212-square-meter villa on Lidingö outside Stockholm, where she and her husband have lived since 2022.
Sjöström aims to swim at the European Championships in August and wants to make a comeback as late as possible before the championships, preferably in June. The long-term goal is the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.
During the interview in a corner of the kitchen, husband Johan de Jong Skierus is busy with a happily babbling Adrian, 4 months old, one step down in the open-plan living room area.
Sarah Sjöström gave birth to her son under dramatic circumstances in the ambulance outside Södersjukhuset at the end of August.
Adrian controls time
Adrian is the family's number one focus. At the same time, father Johan will be on parental leave when Sarah Sjöström begins the hard work of returning.
She does this during a five-week trip to South Africa, a combined vacation and training, and then at a national team camp in Tenerife in February. The family is on both trips.
The challenge right now is to find a lifestyle and training that works with the family. Right now it's easiest as Johan is on paternity leave until March 2027, but then Adrian will start preschool, so we'll have to find a new everyday routine.
Sarah Sjöström has continued to exercise during most of her pregnancy and after, but at a level she describes as that of a recreational exerciser.
When asked where Sjöström is now physically, she answers:
I actually have no idea. What Toni (coach Antonio Lutula) and I have said is that in January 2027 I will be in my usual form, but until then I don't feel any stress.
Sarah Sjöström has not competed since August 2024 in Stockholm, days after her Olympic gold medal success in Paris.
Right now I've just been taking it super easy and trying to build up my strength, but I'm still a long way from my best level.
The firecracker for the European Championship
Sarah Sjöström targeted the European Championships in Paris early on - the city where she won double Olympic gold in 2024 - as a championship she wants to compete in.
The sights are still set there in August – but with a twist:
"I'm not going to go there just to try to reach the semifinals. I want to be there to perform. I'll go if I feel it's fun and positive and my body is working," she says.
Since she doesn't have any times to go on from last year, she hasn't even qualified for the European Championships yet - something that, without a setback in her comeback, shouldn't be a problem. But...
I've never checked the qualifying rules in my entire life (laughs). I still haven't spoken to Martina Aronsson (national team captain) or "Toni" about it.
Adrian continues playing with his father, and when the interview is over and his mother approaches, his son shines. So does his mother, a world star.
These are really cosy days and it feels so luxurious that Johan takes all his paternity leave so we have lots of time together.
How is parenting life?
It felt natural so quickly that he's part of our family and our life. It's almost like we've forgotten what life was like before... in a wonderful way, of course.
Born: August 17, 1993 (age 32).
Family: Married to Johan de Jong Skierus, 36, son Adrian, 4 months.
Main achievements: 3 Olympic gold medals, 20 World Championship gold medals (14 of which in long course), 29 European Championship gold medals (17 of which in long course).
