ANOC Award winner Sjöström claims Sweden’s first gold of Paris 2024

Sweden’s Sarah Sjöström won her country’s first gold medal of Paris 2024 on Wednesday night as she took top honours in the women’s 100m freestyle.

The Swede, who won the ANOC Award for Best Female Athlete from Europe 2017, finished with a time of 52.16 seconds, 0.13 seconds ahead of USA’s second placed Torri Huske.

“I didn’t think I would swim the 100 free,” Sjöström said.

“After the freestyle relay the first day, I told my coach straight away, ‘I don’t think the 100 free is for me. No, I want to do the 50. I will rest until the 50.’ ”

“My reaction said everything. I didn’t know where I was when I finished. It took a few seconds before I saw that I won,” she said. “I have no more words. This is unbelievable.”

Photo by © Maddie Meyer/Getty Image