Since last summer, Sarah Sjöström has competed in five championships in just over a year.

During the long course WC in Budapest in June, the 29-year-old won medals in all three distances she competed in, gold in the 50 m freestyle and 50 m butterfly and silver in the 100 m freestyle.

Then Sjöström announced that she wanted to take a competitive break from the World Cup and Short Track WC this fall and winter.

Now she has received a new award.

The day before Christmas Eve, the international swimming site SwimSwam announces that the Swede is the female swimmer of the year in Europe.

An award she won three times before, in 2017, 2018 and 2021.

Sarah Sjöström, with her 19 individual WC medals, is first on the women's side of all time, only the greatest Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps, has more with his 20.

CLIP: Sarah Sjötröm answers short questions (December 14, 2022)

Sarah Sjöström answers short questions

  • Why do you have two swimming caps?

    21 sec

  • How long can you hold your breath?

    24 sec

  • How hot is the pool?

    7 sec

  • Do you have to be good at holding your breath?

    8 sec

  • Are you really related to Charlotte Kalla?

    14 sec

  • How tall are you?

    2 sec

  • Do you like swimming?

    9 sec

  • Shave just the legs or the whole body?

    11 sec

  • Do you notice the swimmers next to you?

    2 sec