Sjöström: 'I haven't rushed or forced anything'

Sarah Sjöström is returning to Paris, the city where she won two Olympic golds, for her first championship since the Games. While much remains the same, her life has significantly changed since the Olympics, particularly with the birth of her son, Adrian, in August last year. Now, she is the fastest in Europe this year in both the 50-meter butterfly and 50-meter freestyle, events she will compete in at the European Championships.

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We introduced something we called 'postpartum PB,' meaning personal best after pregnancy. We did the same when I more regularly started swimming butterfly in training. Simply so that I wouldn't compare myself to where I was before pregnancy but follow the process where I was at the moment.

Sjöström, who took a break after the Olympics, and her husband Johan de Jong Skierus welcomed their son Adrian, born in an ambulance. Nearly a year later, Sjöström is back at the top of her game. She attributes her successful return to a deliberate training strategy. "We introduced something we called 'postpartum PB,' meaning personal best after pregnancy," she explained. "We did the same when I more regularly started swimming butterfly in training. Simply so that I wouldn't compare myself to where I was before pregnancy but follow the process where I was at the moment."

Her coach, Antonio Lutula, is also part of this supportive system. "I think we are both quite surprised by the times I have been doing," Sjöström admitted with a smile. "But mostly, I am just grateful that my body still has the strength." The swimmer also highlighted the crucial role her husband plays. "Something that surely contributes a lot to me returning successfully is, of course, that Johan is on parental leave," she said. "When I go to train in the mornings, I can fully focus on it because I know they are fine at home."

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I think we are both quite surprised by the times I have been doing.

Sjöström has also incorporated gym sessions before her swims, a change from her previous routine. "If I hadn't set an alarm clock, I used to sleep until around 7:30, but now he makes sure we wake up significantly earlier," she said, referring to her son. "Before I became a mother, I would never have gone to the gym at seven in the morning. Now, I rather find it 'nice' because then I know that when I'm done with my swim, I'm really done. I also feel better in the water after having worked out beforehand."

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But mostly, I am just grateful that my body still has the strength.

She emphasized that her current speed hasn't been forced. "I haven't rushed anything or forced the speed. I have just appreciated every small step forward that I have taken," Sjöström stated. The swimmer holds the record for the most European Championship medals in long-course swimming, with 17 gold, 7 silver, and 4 bronze medals between 2008 and 2022.

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Something that surely contributes a lot to me returning successfully is, of course, that Johan is on parental leave. When I go to train in the mornings, I can fully focus on it because I know they are fine at home.