The 27-year-old, who has done two Olympics, is now charging for the European Championships in Budapest, which starts on Monday.

It is the first championship in swimming since the pandemic broke out and her main focus there is to chase medals.

- First and foremost, it is a championship, it is the main focus.

Then, of course, fast swimming will lead to qualifiers, says Coleman, who took the European Championship bronze in 2014 in the 100 meters freestyle and was Olympic seventh in the 200 meters freestyle in 2016.

Should she pass the qualifying limits at the European Championships, everything should be ready.

But Coleman obviously thinks she's already done it.

The uncertainty feels awkward, she admits.

- It creates stress and anxiety.

What has been most difficult for me is that I have passed the qualifier and not been heard for it.

Had I not met the requirements, it would have been a different matter, she says.

Brilliant after the World Cup miss

Only three Swedish swimmers have been Olympic selected so far, injured superstar Sarah Sjöström, Louise Hansson and Erik Persson.

They were all pre-nominated by SOK (Swedish Olympic Committee) when they reached the final of the World Cup in South Korea in the summer of 2019.

Michelle Coleman failed in the World Cup and missed the final in both the 50 and 100 meter freestyle.

But immediately afterwards, during the World Cup in the autumn of 2019, Coleman excelled and showed top form in competition after competition.

A total of five times she swam below SOK's tough Olympic qualifying limit (24.53 in 50 freestyle and 53.35 in 100 freestyle), which is based on the top eight in the world.

Three times in the 50 meter freestyle and twice in the 100 meter freestyle.

The international Olympic qualifying limit, set by the international swimming federation Fina (24.77 and 54.38) and which came into force on 31 March 2019, Coleman has passed seven and almost 20 times respectively.

- I thought I should have joined already in 2020 before we knew that the Olympics were canceled.

I was already waiting for a selection, she says.

"Does not say much"

How is the dialogue with SOK?

- I have no dialogue directly with SOK but talk to our national team captain and she does not say much.

I have not been told anything and I do not really know how they think.

Sounds like communication could be better?

- Yes, I think so, really.

It feels like it has been a recurring problem when it comes to Olympic qualifiers and such.

SOK has set up their qualifying times and they have been clear, since then it has often been unclear when the selections will take place, but if you pass the qualifying limit, you should be selected, she says.

In addition to 50 and 100 meters freestyle, Coleman also swims 50 meters butterfly in the European Championships.

CLIP: Michelle Coleman on the postponed Olympics: "I was in the shape of my life" (April 13, 2021)

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Michelle Coleman: "I was in the shape of my life" Photo: Bildbyrån / SVT