2024 SJOSTROM INVITATIONAL
30-year-old Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden, 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 today in Stockholm, 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.
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.”
Women’s 50 Fly – Quarterfinal
Gunning for a possible world record, Sjostrom laid down a marker of 24.69 to get the ball rolling in the quarterfinals of the women’s 50m fly. The next-closest swimmer was Sara Junevik who clocked 25.16 while Josefina Alm (28.95) and Mimmi Renlund (28.96) also made it to the next round.
As a reminder, 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.
Men’s 50 Fly – Quarterfinal
The men’s 50m fly field contained just 7 participants, with Jacob Danielsson leading the way with a swift 23.11. That beat the quarterfinal field by nearly a second, with Elias Persson next in line at 24.08.
Danielsson’s outing already represents a new personal best, wiping out the 23.26 he established in October of last year. Swedish national record holder Oskar Hoff casually sawm 24.49 and Gustav Storell also made the next round with 25.33.
Women’s 50 Back – Quarterfinal
Olympian Louise Hansson was the decisive winner of this quarterfinal round of the women’s 50m back. The 27-year-old logged a result of 27.50 to top the field by over 2 seconds.
She still has some speed left in the tank as Hansson owns a lifetime best and Swedish national record of 25.83 from the 2021 Short Course World Championships semi-final. She ultimately placed 3rd that year in Abu Dhabi with a time of 25.86.
Women’s 50 Fly – Semifinal
It will a battle of the ‘Sarahs’ as both Sjostrom and Junevik cleared the pack to make it to the final. The former shaved .02 off her quarterfinal time to check in with 24.67 while the latter add .31.
We’ll see if Sjostrom can make a run at Alshammar’s record in the final match.
Men’s 50 Fly – Semifinal
It will be Jacob Danielsson and Elias Persson appearing in the final of the men’s 50m fly. Danielsson clocked a time of 23.59 to land the top spot while Persson was also under the 24-second barrier in 23.96.
Women’s 50 Back – Semifinal
Hansson once again fired off the fastest time, shaving a hair from her quarterfinal race to check in at 27.36. Runner-up thus far Hegmegi also dropped from the previous round, hitting 29.48 as the only other competitor under the 30-second barrier. We’ll see them face off in the final battle.
Women’s 50 Breast – Quarterfinal
Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte is one of just a handful of non-Swedes competing at this invitational and the Olympic medalist made her presence known in this 50m breast.
Meilutyte punched a time of 30.03 to warm up, with Sophie Hansson about half a second behind in 30.50.
Men’s 50 Breast – Quarterfinal
The men’s 50m breast was on the subdued side, with just two competitors clearing the 30-second barrier.
Storell led the way in 28.06 followed by Hoff who punched 29.66.
Women’s 50 Free – Quarterfinal
Men’s 50 Free – Quarterfinal
Women’s 50 Fly – Final
Men’s 50 Fly – Final
Women’s 50 Back – Final
Men’s 50 Back – Final
Women’s 50 Breast – Semifinal
Men’s 50 Breast – Semifinal
Women’s 50 Free – Semifinal
Men’s 50 Free – Semifinal
Women’s 50 Breast – Final
Men’s 50 Breast – Final
Women’s 50 Free – Final
Men’s 50 Free – Final
