Sarah Sjöström is awarded as Female Athlete of the Year

Sjöström beat three Olympic gold medalists.

The other nominees were Sandra Näslund, Sara Hector and Jonna Sundling.

- What contrasts.

This morning, for the first time in my career, I had to cancel a training session because I was tired and in pain.

Sometimes it's incredibly tough to do all those workouts even if your body hurts.

To continue at this level again and again, year after year, makes me feel incredibly grateful for all the help I get along the way, says Sjöström.

- It's a lot of fun and I feel that I have many years to come.

I'm looking forward to the coming years as a swimmer, says 29-year-old Sjöström, who gave up the short course WC in December to get a better balance for recovery.