Sarah Sjostrom Delivers World-Leading 23.92 In 50 Free At Swim Open Stockholm
Sarah Sjostrom went on another journey inside 24secs to win the 50 free in 23.92 as she went top of the world rankings at the Swim Open Stockholm.
The four-time Olympic medallist has put the world on notice in Stockholm as she followed up her 25.04 50 fly on the opening day with another world-leading time.
It was her 2oth voyage inside 24secs – headed by her world record of 23.67 from the 2017 World Championships in Budapest – and her joint 12th fastest, matching the time she did in the semis at the 2018 Europeans in Glasgow.
It was quicker than her winning time at last year’s World Championships in Budapest and the 24.07 in which she won Olympic silver in Tokyo.
Sjostrom will head to the worlds in Fukuoka in July seeking her third title in the event.
Catie Deloof (24.70) and Sjostrom’s fellow Swede Michelle Coleman (24.72) battled it out for the minor placings.
Victories For Litchfield And Hansson
Max Litchfield, locked out of the podium by one place at Rio 2016 before finishing joint fourth with David Verraszto five years later in Tokyo, enjoyed a dominant win in the 400IM.
Max Litchfield: Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Representing the University of Livorno, the 28-year-old won in 4:12.85, 5.04secs quicker than the winning time at the British Championships that concluded in Sheffield last weekend.
Mykhailo Romanchuk was the next man home in 4:20.26.
A second 50 of 27.78 propelled Oleksandr Zheltiakov from fifth to first in the 100 back, the Ukrainian winning in 54.39, 0.02 ahead of 50 back winner Miroslav Knedla (54.01).
Nikola Miljenic led throughout to win the men’s 100 free in 49.03 ahead of 2022 world silver medallist Maxime Grousset (49.22) and Danas Rapsys, who claimed his third medal of the freestyle events in 49.27.
Denys Kesil set a meet record of 1:56.46 to take the 200 fly
Emma Terebo won the 200 back in 2:11.93 with Adela Piskorska coming from fourth at 150 to take second with a final-length 33.44 – the fastest in the field – in 2:12.51.
Sophie Hansson won the 200 breaststroke in 2:25.31, Paige Madden added the 400 free to her 200 win in 4:10.75 and Tamara Potocka took the 200IM in 2:14.44.