European Champion last year and sixth in the World Championship already in 2023.
Now Sara Junevik is faster than ever on 50 meters butterfly and sixth on the world's best list this year.
All thanks to the message in early April from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that the 50-meter events in butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke will be included in the Olympic program from Los Angeles 2028.
Before the Olympic Games in Paris, she had to focus on 100 meters butterfly, missed the qualifying limit by 14 hundredths, and participated as a relay swimmer.
"All in"
So what has the IOC's message meant?
Now I can go all in for the 50, so we changed the training completely. We added a workout and removed a swim session per week and have done more power training in the water. So that's what applies until 2028, says Sara Junevik.
It gave results directly.
At the Swedish Championship a month ago, she lowered her personal best by 18 hundredths to 25.50.
- It released so much stress and pressure, during the season you have been so much around your personal best, so it was so nice to without expecting it, be able to go down so much. I have asked myself what I should change in the races to go down in time, there has been so much that has been perfect, with the finish, start and my kicks, she says.
Now she didn't change anything, but got paid off by the new training plan.
Pass from Sjöström
When the world's fastest butterfly, Sarah Sjöström, is missing because she will become a mother, she sent a pass to Junevik:
Make sure the World Championship gold stays in Sweden.
Something Junevik told TT before the World Championship.
I'll do my best, she says about the tough requirement, and continues:
I feel since Fukuoka 2023, when I became sixth, that I really have something to give here and more to give. I'm really here to fight in the final, she says.
Relaxed attitude
Having Sjöström as a role model and training companion has meant a lot. She has picked up important details from the star.
I've taken after a lot from Sarah, after all the years you've been behind her in the call room, in training and everything, you notice that it's not always about being a hundred percent in it. It can become too much. You need to have a fairly relaxed swimming to succeed, so what I've learned is not to get too caught up in what you're going to do, she says.
50 meters butterfly starts with heats and semifinals on Friday and the final is decided on Saturday.
