In 2000, Lars Frölander won Olympic gold in the 100 m butterfly.
Just a year earlier, he had changed his diet to be completely plant-based.
Frölander has said that he got rid of recurring infections and diseases, and was also able to recover better.
Therese Alshammar also went the same way and changed her diet.
- I have been inspired by Lars Frölander and Therese Alshammar.
I've talked to both of them and they thought it was a great idea.
"Several personal records at the gym"
After two medal-free Olympics, Sarah Sjöström won her first medals in Rio 2016. Four years later, she aims to repeat the achievements in Tokyo this summer.
Three months ago, she chose to change her diet and is now a vegetarian.
- I have become much stronger.
There will only be personal records at the gym all the time.
I feel that I have more energy, I sleep better at night and I feel that my mood is stable.
I think it has changed a lot for me.
Sarah Sjöström is currently at a training camp in South Africa and SVT was able to witness how the 26-year-old has become stronger in the gym.
- There were several personal records, including "pull ups", where I did 18 pieces.
My personal (personal record) before was 12.
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Sarah Sjöström sets a personal record in "pull ups".
Photo: SVT / Toby Selander
"Feeling much better now"
A lot is about Sjöström wanting to achieve new results, at the same time as she also highlights the environmental reasons.
- I travel a lot, which is not so good, but if I can influence by eating a vegetarian diet, it's good.
Then I want to see if I can swim faster if I eat vegetarian, but it remains to be seen.
- But just because I eat vegetarian now does not mean that I will do it forever.
But I feel much better now.
Frölander: The diet saved my career