Rio 2016 gold medal winner Sarah Sjöström from Sweden is in Malta till tomorrow as an ambassador for the Bettson Group.
Apart from having won the Olympic medal in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Sarah Sjostrom is a multi-medal world champion and holder of no fewer than 6 world records.
Speaking to her yesterday at the ASA offices, she said she had started competitive swimming at age nine. "That is when I started feeling a big love for the sport, especially when I started clocking good times. Overall, I think I had a very good 2017. Personally, I think it was my best ever year in swimming," she said.
Asked what her most cherished medal was, she immediately pointed out that it was the Olympic medal. "It was my third Olympics and I was proud I was a winner," she added.
She went on to say that she has been inspired to success by several top performers in the sport. In Sweden, despite the cold, swimming is more popular than waterpolo and there are a lot of world class swimmers. But one has to undergo sacrifices to reach the top. You have to follow a vast training plan - five hours a day - which is part and parcel of the secret to success.
"My visit here in Malta is sort of a short holiday, but at present I am already training for the 2020 Olympics, even if the first competition is the European Championship," she said.
Sjostrom had other big satisfactions in her career. She said: "One of the most important was that being voted twice as Best Athlete in Sweden - and that was the People's Choice Award twice in a row."
Sjostrom also said that she was happy and grateful to Betsson who are sponsoring her, thus becoming the face and a part of the company's campaigns where sports and entertainment is in focus. The sponsorship is a part of Betsson's increased commitment to Swedish sports.
"Sarah is an ideal match for us and a fantastic person we have been wanting to work with for a long time. She is the heart of Swedish sports and a role model that personifies a winner. We are passionate about sports and have been since our foundation more than 55 years ago. Therefore, this partnership is a natural step in our increased dedication to Swedish sports", Jesper Svensson, Chief Commercial Officer at Betsson Group said.
"In Betsson I have found a serious and long-term partner who enables me to focus on my career and especially the Olympic Games in 2020," Sjöström said.
Career in 2017
Her profile shows that in January last year she competed in the 19th Luxembourg Euro Meet and won the 50m freestyle event with a time of 24.01, the 100m freestyle event with a time of 53.21, the 50m butterfly event with a time of 25.02, and the 100m butterfly event with a time of 57.12.
In April 2017 Sjöström competed in the Stockholm Swim Open and won the 50m butterfly event with a time of 25.63.
She also won the 100m butterfly event with a time of 56.26. She also won the 50m freestyle event, setting a time of 23.83, the second fastest time ever. In the 100m freestyle event she won first place with the time of 52.54, a new personal best and Swedish (national) record.
Accomplishments
Among her accomplishments, Sjöström won the gold medal in the 100m butterfly at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on 7 August 2016, setting an Olympic and world record with a time of 55.48. She also won a gold medal in 100m butterfly in the World Championships in Rome 2009 and set the world record.
She also participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics and finished 27th in the 100-metre butterfly and 29th in the 100-metre backstroke. She also participated in Sweden's 4×100-metre medley relay team. They managed to reach the final, but in the final, they were disqualified for an over-long false start.