Many were surprised when the Sports Gala presented its nominations earlier in the week and Sarah Sjöström's coach Antonio Lutula, 31, was not among the candidates for Coach of the Year.
Sjöström's coach persuaded her to swim the 100 meters freestyle in the Olympic Games. An event Sjöström had intended to skip to focus on the half distance.
It ended with a gold medal success and then she secured another one just for fun on the 50 meters freestyle where she was a huge favorite.
I've seen his work. He's the reason I competed in the 100 meters freestyle. He coached me in a very good way and the planning this year, well since Tokyo actually, has been very good, says Sjöström who has taken a competition break for the year.
Antonio Lutula was named Europe's best coach by the major American swimming site Swimswam last year. Since 2022, he has been the head coach for Sarah Sjöström and the other swimmers at NEC, the national elite center.
He stepped in as a relatively young coach, we're the same age, and I'm very impressed with how he's handled everything. He would have absolutely been a worthy winner, says she.
The leaders who were nominated instead were track and field's national team captain Kajsa Bergqvist, Rasmus Jonsson and Anders Kristiansson, beach volleyball, Johannes Lukas, biathlon, and Jörgen Persson, table tennis.
Sarah Sjöström was nominated as Female Athlete of the Year, Performance of the Year, and for the Jerring Award.
The Sports Gala will be held on January 20.
