Silver for Sjöström despite fast time at European Championships

Sarah Sjöström secured her 98th championship medal, a silver in the 50-meter freestyle at the European Championships, despite clocking a remarkably fast time. The Swedish swimmer finished in 23.86 seconds, a speed that would have won gold in previous finals, but was ultimately edged out by Poland's veteran Katarzyna Wasick, who set a personal best of 23.84 seconds.

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I swam a really good race and I'm very happy about that. I don't care about the color of the medal, actually.

Despite the close finish, Sjöström expressed contentment with her race. "I swam a really good race and I'm very happy about that. I don't care about the color of the medal, actually," she stated. The 32-year-old, who gave birth 11 months ago, acknowledged Wasick's exceptional performance and reflected on her own physical condition, noting she is still rebuilding strength after childbirth.

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I thought maybe this time would be enough for a gold medal, but Wasick is absolutely fantastic and has been in the world elite for many years.

This silver medal marks Sjöström's second at the championships, adding to her gold from the 100m freestyle. Her comeback has been swift, exceeding expectations. Her coach, Antonio Lutula, confirmed their plan to have her physically and competitively back to her best by January 2027, with a more selective competition schedule ahead. Sjöström will skip the short course World Championships in China and focus on the long course World Championships in Budapest next summer.

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I didn't think I would be able to be at a European Championship. I'm swimming better than I am physically ready for.