SODERTALJE, Sweden, March 19. FOUR Masters world records fell last weekend at the Swedish Masters short course nationals, with Anna Hammar responsible for two of the new marks.
Hammar, 45, broke two world records in the 45-49 age group held by 1984 Olympian Susan von der Lippe. First, Hammar swam a 1:12.64 in the 100 breast, eclipsing von der Lippe's mark of 1:13.30 from October 2010.
Hammar followed up that swim with a 33.81 in the 50 breaststroke to take down the von der Lippe world record of 33.82 by the slimmest of margins. Hammar's involvement in swimming extends beyond Masters: She is the communications manager for the Swedish swimming federation.
Jan Karlsson, also 45, set a world record in the men's 50 butterfly for the 45-49 age group with a 25.58. The swim erased American Fritz Bedford's mark of 25.74.
The SK Neptune team of Simon Sjodin, Pontus Flodqvist, Christoffer Vikstrom and Petter Stymme posted a world record in the men's 200 medley relay for the 100-119 age group with a 1:40.82. Brazil's 1:42.75 had stood as the world record since 2011.