Swimmers affiliated with NEC, the national elite center, today conducted training competitions in Eriksdalsbadet.

For Sarah Sjöström, it was the first time in a competitive environment since the International Swimming League, ISL, ended at the end of November.

But she has not had a big craving for competitions during the break.

- I felt that I could live on those competitions (in ISL) for a while.

It was not that I longed to compete again.

I got a good dose of competitions there, probably 50 races in six weeks, that was enough for me, she says to SVT Sport.

Today's training competitions were conducted with strict restrictions.

Among other things, there were only two or three swimmers per heat and an empty course in between.

There were no official competitions, but with official timekeeping, and it was, among other things, the time 24.07 for Sjöström in the 50 meter freestyle.

- It's fun to come back a little.

It always gets a little annoying when you put on the competition suit.

Now that you get an official time, you really get a receipt for approximately what form you are in, it is always extra exciting then, she says.

"Fastest time ever so early"

Michelle Coleman also participated in today's training competitions.

She is still chasing an Olympic venue and received a nice receipt.

In the 50 meter freestyle she swam in the time 24.93.

- It's the fastest time I've ever had this early in the season, so I'm very happy.

It is great to have good resistance and have this competitive competition, says Coleman to SVT Sport.

Swim Open in Eriksdalsbadet is planned to be held in April.

The calendar right now also includes competitions in Spain, Italy and France as well as the Swedish Championships and European Championships in Budapest before the Olympics.

But whether Sjöström and the other swimmers can complete the competitions under the prevailing circumstances remains to be seen.

- I do not have a very long planning at once, but I get to take one competition at a time and then I get to see what happens.

Otherwise you have to do something like this that we do at home in Stockholm and we can not travel in a safe way, says Sjöström.