Sarah Sjostrom completed the Bergen Swim Festival the way she started it — in dominant fashion. On the final day of competition, she posted extremely impressive victories in the women’s 100 fly and 50 free. In both races, she posted times that only she has beaten this year and that few others have ever surpassed.
Sjostrom won the 100 fly in 56.32, just off her own top-ranked 56.26 from last month, but the time is the 16th-fastest performance of all-time. Aside from Sjostrom, only three other swimmers, Dana Vollmer, Liu Zige and Jessicah Schipper, have ever swum quicker, and Liu and Schipper both did so with the aid of now-banned polyurethane suits.
Lucie Svecena (59.21) and Maaike De Waard (59.53) finished second and third, respectively, behind Sjostrom.
Later on in the session, Sjostrom blasted a 23.87 to win the 50 free, finishing well ahead of the Dutchwoman who won the 2012 Olympic gold medal in the event, Ranomi Kromowidjojo (24.41). Susann Bjornsen took third in 25.11.
That time by Sjostrom ranks in the top-five all-time in the event and is just behind her lifetime best of 23.84 from earlier this year. Only Britta Steffen, Sjostrom herself and Cate Campbell have ever swum quicker.
Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu finished a comfortable first in the women’s 400 free, touching in 4:07.53 to move into the top 15 in the world. The Netherlands’ Femke Heemskerk, more typically known for her 100 and 200-meter abilities, was second in 4:14.01, and her countrywoman Esmee Vermeulen touched third in 4:15.13.
Jan Micka of the Czech Republic won the men’s 400 free in 3:52.01, more than four seconds ahead of Dutchman Maarten Brzoskowski (3:56.15). The Netherlands’ Kyle Stolk touched third in 4:02.32.
Iceland’s Hrafnhildur Lúthersdóttir picked up the win in the women’s 50 breast in 31.68. Hosszu finished nine tenths back in 32.58, and Ida Hulkko took third in 34.16.
Sweden’s Erik Persson took first in the men’s 50 breast in 28.54, just edging out countryman Johannes Skagius (28.67). Third went to Jolann Bovey in 30.30.
The Netherlands’ Mathys Goosen took first in the men’s 100 fly in 52.73, a half-second ahead of Denmark’s Viktor Bromer (53.30). Sweden’s Simon Sjodin finished third in 53.54.
Germany’s Lisa Graf won the women’s 200 back in 2:10.34, a second ahead of Iceland’s Eyglo Gustafsdottir (2:11.37). Hosszu finished well back in third, clocking 2:16.35.
Luxembourg’s Raphael Stacchiotti finished first in the men’s 200 back, clocking 2:04.94. Sjodin finished just behind in 2:05.33, and Filip Bjorkholm grabbed third in 2:10.07.
To round out the meet, the Netherlands’ Ben Schwitert won the men’s 50 free in 22.70, just edging out countryman Stan Pijnenburg (22.84). Hakon Wulf Haugen took third in 23.06.
Four golds for Sjöström in Budapest? Yeah, why not..?
Congratulations