Outdoors & Sports

Olympic Faces: Sarah Sjöström

As the world’s best athletes descend on Rio for the Summer Olympics, Umgås will highlight some of Sweden’s best and brightest.

Today, we take a look at Sarah Sjöström.

Sport – Swimming

Vitals – 22 years old (she turns 23 on Aug. 17)…from Rönninge, Sweden…world record-holder in 50 and 100 butterfly (long course) and 200m free (short course)

Why You Should Watch – The same reason you should watch Americans Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky. Sjöström has a great chance to become the first Swedish woman to win an Olympic gold medal, with her best chance coming in the 100 butterfly. She’s also racing in the 50, 100 and 200 free, with the 200 being a showdown against Ledecky. Sports Illustrated predicts she’ll win gold in 100 fly, silver (to Ledecky) in the 200 free and bronze in the 100 free (where she’ll battle the likes of Australian sisters Cate and Bronte Campbell.

Record-Setter – Here’s video of Sjöström breaking the world record in the 100 fly.

Fun Fact – According to NBC, Sjöström began swimming because she wanted to do everything her best friend did.

Getting Social – Sjöström is on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.