The plan was that the Swedish Short Course Championships would have been decided during this week in Sophie Hansson's home pool in Helsingborg.

But when the spread of infection increased and the Skåne region introduced local restrictions at the end of October, the championship was canceled.

- I have not been behind the starting block in nine months.

You build up a habit of competing and it is definitely not there, she says.

Everything changed

Sophie Hansson, who took the European Championship bronze in the 50 meter breaststroke in the short course of 2017, has had to change almost everything in her life since the corona pandemic washed over the world last winter.

She left North Carolina State University in Raleigh in a hurry in March when everything was shut down and went home to Helsingborg.

She chose to refrain from going back when the autumn term began and now the plan is to go after Christmas.

She is in her third college year out of four.

- They have started the business again and been running for a while, but I have chosen to stay at home and train.

It felt best because in the beginning when they started it felt very insecure and I thought it was better to be in Sweden, she says.

Sparred with the sister

Still, Sophie Hansson maintains a positive attitude despite the fact that the Olympic upload is affected.

Patience is a virtue in the swimming world that has been hit extra hard by the pandemic.

- It is clear that I had to go home and such, but I feel that I have had a good environment to train in. There are many around the world who have not had the opportunity to train at all.

I have been able to drive with my trainer (Sverker Maltesjö) that I had before I went to the USA and throughout the summer my sister was at home so we could spar at the trainings, she says.

Sophie Hansson has not qualified for the Olympics individually yet - unlike big sister Louise - but will certainly swim in Tokyo regardless, only the Olympics will be over, as she is an important part of the medley team that has qualified.

In addition, she cracked extra in freestyle at the 2019 WC when the Swedes qualified with the team also in the 4x100 meter freestyle, and is relevant in that team as well.

Big sister Hansson is one of four Swedes currently competing in the ISL series in Budapest.

It is the only international swimming that has been held since the pandemic broke out.

-It's great fun, I sit at home and follow her every day.

Funny that it goes so well for her and the other Swedes.

Do you think the Olympics will be over?

- I believe and hope so.

I try not to speculate but prepare as if it will happen, says Hansson who made his Olympic debut in Rio 2016.