By Retta Race on SwimSwam
2024 SJOSTROM INVITATIONAL
- Monday, August 12th
- Eriksdalsbadet, Sweden
- SCM (25m)
- Entries/Results
Swimming action at the 2024 Olympic Games may have concluded but Sweden’s golden speedster Sarah Sjostrom is still ready to compete.
30-year-old Sjostrom, who took gold in both the women’s 50m and 100m freestyle events in Paris, has eyes on short course world records as she’s set to take on multiple races at the 2024 Sjostrom Invitational.
Taking place on Monday, August 12th in Eriksdalsbadet, the competition will see its namesake swimmer take on the 50m fly and 50m free, with both events raced in the skins format. There will be quarterfinals followed by semifinals and ultimately a final to determine the champion.
The format continues for the men’s and women’s backstroke and breaststroke events as well.
Additional competitors slated to make appearances include Sweden’s Louise Hansson, Sophie Hansson and Elias Persson in addition to Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte and Poland’s Kasia Wasick.
Sjostrom told the Swedish Swimming Federation, “I thought I’d take advantage when I’m in Olympic shape, and then it would be fun to break a world record at home.
Sjostrom owns the Swedish national record in the 50m free with the 23.00 notched during the 2017 World Cup Series. The World Record remains at the 22.93 retired Dutch Olympic champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo put on the books that same year.
As for the SCM 50 fly, Sweden’s Therese Alshammar owns the world’s best-ever performance with the 24.38 logged in 2009 and Sjostrom’s PB rests within range at 24.50 from 2021.
Specifically regarding that latter event, Sjostrom said, “I think it’s one of the oldest records, it says something about how good that time is. I think there are more people who are eager to try to beat it.”
The Sjostrom Invitational will also see the younger set take to the pool, with direct finals hosting Swedish swimmers born in 2008 and younger.
“2008 was the year I made my championship debut and I thought it could be fun with youngsters in the competition too, where we can cheer each other on,” said Sjostrom.
“I can cheer on my young club mates and they can cheer on me and my international friends when we swim.”
Read the full story on SwimSwam: Olympic Champion Sarah Sjostrom Eyeing SCM World Records At Domestic Meet