Introducing Swedish swimming sensation Sarah Sjöström

You cannot stop winning at the moment; would you say you feel more at home in the water than you do on land right now?

Erm, yeah, that’s fair. I feel very confident in the water, it’s good for me (laughs).  

For example, I started to play a little bit of pool this year and I feel like I am getting quite good at it. I train a lot in a centre in Turkey and there is a pool table there. It’s quite fun; when we have time we have some matches. I play against my teammates and my coach, and I am the best already.

Even though you say it was a struggle at the very beginning, did you fall in love with swimming quickly?

When I started racing, that is when I fell in love with the sport. When I found out how easy it was to see that you are becoming a better swimmer, when you do faster times in the pool, when it’s obvious to see the progress, that was when I started to love swimming.

When I started though it was a struggle: I got water in my nose – all that stuff. But I think I learned pretty quickly. It is the same with other stuff I do, I learn fast.

Did you play a lot of other sports as a child?

I didn’t try too many other sports. I would do them once or twice, but I didn’t really enjoy team sports, it was not really my thing. I got so annoyed by what other people were doing all the time, so I was not happy (laughs). I needed to do an individual sport.

It’s still the same: team sports are still a big challenge for me. I love playing soccer but I play everywhere, I have no idea. I am an individual athlete even when I play soccer; I am all over the field. I want everyone to give me the ball.

What is it that gives you the edge to make you an Olympic and world champion?

I just like to compare myself to myself. I just want to be better than what I was before. I want to find ways to be faster in the pool. That is my motivation. I never say, “I want to win this medal and that medal.” I am more like, “I want to break this record.” I look more at my times than anything else.

There is always something I can improve. Like this year, I haven’t broken any world records but it’s all been about getting faster times in training. I try to always find something.

Would you say you are a perfectionist then?

No. I wouldn’t say I am a perfectionist. I am quite chilled actually. Even in the pool, I try to relax and not stress too much. I don’t think about every detail; I try to just go with the flow and not think too much.

I feel like the technique comes naturally for me. If I think too much about my technique I swim slower.

What is it that gets you out of bed and into the training pool every day?

My biggest motivation is that this is a dream, to have this as my job. I get to work hard every day in the pool, to try and find ways to get faster. I travel, I see new places and meet new people all the time – that is the motivation. I never want to change this job.

It’s a great life. It is easier when everything goes smoothly, but I do really like swimming, with or without the medals. I really enjoy the journey to the medals. That is the most important thing.

Before Rio it was like, “OK, I have already won gold”, because I was really enjoying the journey.

Are the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games a big part of the journey?

I do think about them. I am trying to build a good base in training already, putting a bit more volume in training so I can work more on the details when I get closer to Tokyo.

You recently tweeted about how there is not a single woman in the latest top 100 highest-earning athletes. How surprising and shocking is that? 

It’s quite weird. I am very surprised. I hope it’s going to change very soon.

In swimming, we are very equal. If you are a guy or a girl you get the same bonus if you win the World Cup. It’s nothing different. More sports should be the same. It needs to change.

As you are a keen interior decorator, can you tell us about your apartment?

My apartment looks like an interiors magazine. I don’t have the typical white walls or anything, it’s very special. There’s a lot of blue and green on the wall, a very elegant style, a lot of flowers and nice design furniture.

It’s very cosy; blue and green makes you a little bit calm. White is the colour that you get more stressed with. Nature was an inspiration. I am super proud of it. It’s so nice to have something unique.

And how is your fear of flying?

It is getting better. But it’s a challenge. Sitting close to people makes me a little bit stressed. If I have three seats to myself I am a little bit calmer.