Sarah Sjostrom Could Have Won Gold in Paris 50m Freestyle-What Went Wrong?

Sarah Sjostrom would have won gold in the women’s 50m freestyle at the Paris Olympics-if the event had been included. The International Olympic Committee only approved the race for Los Angeles 2028, but Sjostrom’s 2023-2025 form suggests she’d have topped the podium in a one-lap sprint. Her closest rivals in the hypothetical race? Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan and the U.S.’s Abbey Weitzeil-both of whom Sjostrom beat in key 2024 meets.

Why Would Sjostrom Have Won in Paris?

Sjostrom’s 50m freestyle times in 2023-2025 were consistently under 24.00 seconds, faster than her 2024 Olympic 100m freestyle gold (24.41). At the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, she clocked 23.83 in the 50m freestyle final-good for third behind O’Callaghan (23.73) and Torri Huske (23.81). By 2025, she’d dropped to 23.71 in a World Cup heat, a mark only O’Callaghan and Sarah Sjöström (yes, the same name-no relation) had matched.

Who Would Have Finished Behind Her?

The projected podium in a Paris 50m freestyle would have mirrored her 2023 Worlds results: Sjostrom in gold, O’Callaghan in silver, and Huske in bronze. But here’s the twist: Weitzeil, who took silver in the 100m freestyle in Paris, would have been a dark-horse contender. She sat 0.04 seconds behind Sjostrom in the 50m at the 2024 U.S. Trials, where Sjostrom won in 23.92.

What Changed Between 2023 and 2024?

Sjostrom’s 50m freestyle times slowed in 2024, peaking at 24.12 in a World Cup meet. The drop coincided with her focus on the 100m and 200m freestyle events, where she defended her Olympic titles. By contrast, O’Callaghan and Huske refined their 50m sprints, leaving Sjostrom just outside medal range in the shorter race by mid-year.

How Would the Race Have Played Out?

A Paris 50m freestyle would have been a sprint to the wall. Sjostrom’s explosive start-her 23.71 in 2025 was the fastest in the world that year-would have dictated the race. O’Callaghan’s turn strength would have come into play on the final lap, but Sjostrom’s 0.10-second advantage at the 2023 Worlds suggests she’d have held off challenges. Weitzeil’s late-race speed might have earned her bronze, while Emma McKeon (another 2023 podium finisher) would have battled for fourth.

The Bigger Picture: Why the 50m Freestyle Matters

The 50m freestyle’s addition to Los Angeles 2028 means Sjostrom gets a second chance at Olympic gold in the event. Her 2023-2025 form proves she’s still the queen of sprints-if she can replicate that speed in a high-pressure final. The question now isn’t if she’ll win in 2028, but whether she’ll finally break the 23.50 barrier.