The 27-year-old Jönköping swimmer has broken Swedish records almost every time he has jumped into the water at championships in recent years.
Last year he came fourth in the 400-meter freestyle at the World Championships in Singapore and fifth in the 800-meter freestyle.
In the short course European Championships last winter, he could count two fifth-place finishes (in the 400 and 800 meter freestyle) and a sixth-place finish in the 1,500 meter freestyle.
It should soon be time for a medal-filled senior championship for the previously unlucky swimmer, where injuries and illnesses have long been a recurring theme.
“It’s hard to irritate me”
Don't you get irritated when you're always so close but can't quite reach it?
It's very hard to annoy me. I live the dream life, I train, I get to go everywhere, I get to compete and I see the progress, he says.
At the World Championships last year, he was the second-best European in the 400 and third-best in the 800 meter freestyle.
I was discussing this medal thing with my parents last week, I think my view on it is a little different than most people. It's clear that I'm here to win a medal, but at the same time my personal development is most important.
At the short course European Championships in Poland last winter, I got faster and faster and swam faster than ever, but the other distance guys did too. The finish line was moved forward. I don't want to win a medal at the European Championships because the finish line is moved back, but because I get faster. At the Olympics, it's a completely different thing. Then it's the medal that counts regardless of time, he says.
Tough program
Victor Johansson will compete six out of seven days at the European Championships if he reaches the individual finals. He swims the 400, 800 and 1,500 meter freestyle and, when the championships in Paris start on Monday, he will be part of Sweden's 4x200 meter freestyle team.
He has spent five weeks at high altitude earlier this summer and has loaded up for the European Championships at home in Jönköping.
It feels like the pieces of the puzzle have fallen into place one by one in recent weeks at home. So I'm excited.
Monday: Team race, 4x200 meter freestyle, trials and possible final.
Tuesday: 800 meters freestyle, try.
Wednesday: 800 meter freestyle, final.
Friday: 1,500 meters freestyle, try.
Saturday: 1,500 meter freestyle, final.
Sunday: 400 meter freestyle, trials and final.
