By James Sutherland on SwimSwam
Swimming legend Sarah Sjostrom announced Wednesday that she’s pregnant with her first child and is expecting in August.
She and her husband, Johan de Jong Skierus, got married this past October after 12 years of dating and a two-year engagement.
Sjostrom, 31, said in an Instagram post that the first trimester of her pregnancy has been” some of the most mentally and physically challenging” weeks of her life. “I am more in awe than ever of what women go through. I’ve always admired the strength of women, but now I understand it on a whole new level.”
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(@sarahsjostrom)The news comes two months after Sjostrom said she was not planning on competing in 2025 after a successful 2024 that included winning double Olympic gold in the women’s and 100 freestyle.
In her announcement Wednesday, the Swede added that she has been able to swim and train “on her good days.”
“It’s been incredible to see what my body is capable of during this journey,” she wrote. “Everything is much slower” now in the water, but I still feel a sense of harmony when I swim, and it’s amazing to move in a way that feels so natural.”
After she gives birth, Sjostrom plans to work her way back into full training with an eye on competing at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, which would be her sixth straight appearance at the Games after making her debut in 2008.
“Of course, I will fight to compete at a high level again,” she wrote. “I’ve always been inspired by women who continue their athletic careers after pregnancy, and I think it’s curiosity that drives me. It’s not about records or medals.
“It’s about discovering what my body is capable of after recovering from pregnancy.
“My dream is to compete at the LA 2028 Olympics and make it to my sixth Olympic Games.”
One of the most decorated female swimmers of all-time, Sjostrom is coming off winning gold in the women’s 50 and 100 free at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, which marked the second and third Olympic titles of her career after winning the women’s 100 fly in 2016.
She also won silver in the women’s 200 free and bronze in the women’s 100 free at Rio 2016, and at the Tokyo Games in 2021, she won silver in the 50 free after breaking her elbow earlier in the year.
Sjostrom is also a 14-time LC world champion, including winning six straight world titles in the 50 fly (2015-2024) and three consecutive in the 50 free (2022-2024). She currently owns long course world records in the women’s 50 free (23.61), 100 free (51.71) and 50 fly (24.43).
Read the full story on SwimSwam: Olympic Champion Sarah Sjostrom Announces Pregnancy, Reaffirms Commitment To LA 2028