Sarah Sjöström’s Unprecedented Decision: Olympian to Sit Out 2025 Competitions

Swedish athlete Sarah Sjostrom has opted to take a brief hiatus from swimming. Following her participation in her fifth Olympics in Paris, Sjostrom has no intentions of competing in 2025. Nonetheless, the athlete will persist with her training while setting her sights on the L.A. Olympics in 2028.

In a conversation with a Swedish publication, Dagens Nyheter (DN), she mentioned, “I have no competitions scheduled. I will train, but at a lower intensity and gradually ramp up. I believe this is the optimal way to sustain my career long-term.” Sjostrom, still intrigued by the potential of her swimming abilities, is also contemplating her plans for the future. The 31-year-old, who has competed in every Olympics since her debut in 2008, aspires to partake in her sixth consecutive Olympic Games. According to the swimmer, “Merely qualifying for a sixth Olympics would be fantastic.” She further added, “It would be even more remarkable to approach the times I achieved in Paris.”

Sjostrom will be 34 at the time of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Typically, most swimmers make the decision to retire in their early 30s; for instance, Michael Phelps chose to exit competitive swimming permanently at the age of 31. A few months prior, Australia’s Cate Campbell announced her retirement at 32 after failing to qualify for the Paris Olympics. Nevertheless, one of Sjostrom’s significant advantages lies in her endurance. She could join the ranks of the United States’ Anthony Ervin, who captured individual gold in the 50 free at the Rio Olympics at the age of 35, as well as Dara Torres, who contributed to the USA’s gold medal success in the 4×100-meter relay at the Sydney Olympics when she was 33.

This choice comes after a remarkable season for Sjostrom. Maintaining her excellence in sprint events from the start, she made history at the 2024 Worlds by securing her sixth consecutive world title in the 50 butterfly. In Paris, Sjostrom was heavily favored to claim the gold medal in the 50 free due to her silver medal performance in Tokyo. She did not disappoint, finishing the event in 23.71 and securing her first Olympic gold in the 100 free at 52.16.

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What Does Sarah Sjostrom’s Absence From The 2025 Season Mean?

Sarah Sjostrom has been a steady competitor in international swimming competitions. She has taken part in every long-course World Championships since her initiation in 2009 and has achieved a podium finish in nearly all events. The Swedish swimmer has established records in various events, including the 100 free, 50 free, 50 fly, and 100 fly, and has claimed a total of 14 individual gold medals at World Championships to date.

Should Sjostrom stick to her choice for the 2025 season, her remarkable World Championships streak will come to an end. Nonetheless, her absence will also grant opportunities for numerous dedicated athletes to demonstrate their abilities in the long-course competition scheduled for the summer of 2025. Swimmers representing Team U.S., including Gretchen Walsh, who has been preparing for her triumph in the long-course pool, will surely be exciting to watch in both butterfly and freestyle events.

Torri Huske, who narrowly outperformed Walsh to secure the 100-meter butterfly title in Paris, will also aim to achieve her second gold in the 100 fly event following her third-place finish at the 2023 Worlds. Chinese standout Zhang Yufei, who has previously posed stiff competition to Sarah Sjostrom across various events, will also seek her first gold in the 50 fly and 50 free events.