Sarah Sjöström set three world bests in the 100 free, 50 free and 50 butterfly at the Swim Open in Stockholm this weekend.

But the most surprising result came at another distance, the 50 backstroke, where she won and qualified with a time of 28.10.

"It's a branch that popped up from time to time. I didn't even have a fast enough qualifying time for the Swim Open a few weeks ago but swam the 50 backstroke in the France events then and managed to make the qualifier there. And now, apparently, World Cup qualifiers... Super fun!, says Sjöström.

"Taking it as it comes"

The swimming star has not made a decision on either the 100 free or the 50 backstroke at the World Championships – yet.

"There will probably be no 50 backstroke at the World Championships, but if I do it at the World Championships, it's more to try to challenge my personal best. I do not think it goes that far.

"Everyone knows that freestyle and butterfly, sprint distances are the focus for me, then we'll see. I'll take it a bit as it comes and am not super planning in exactly what to set up in.

In terms of schedule, the 50 backstroke at least seems to fit into Sjöström's World Cup plans.

"If I had swum the 100 freestyle, the 50 backstroke wouldn't have fit in very well. But without the 100 freestyle, it would definitely work to run the 50 backstroke. Maybe I'll run in the future.

"50 back not as hard"

You have previously removed distances at the championships. How burdensome would it be to add 50 backstroke?

"Not very burdensome. Partly because it probably wouldn't go that far. Maybe to a semi-final but not anymore I think, if I hadn't surprised myself. There is a difference if I do the 50 and 100 freestyle and the 50 and 100 butterfly, there are a lot of races in a short time.

Sjöström holds the Swedish record (27.80) in the 50 backstroke despite his sparse competition in the distance. In last year's World Championships, a time of 27.69 was required for a place in the final. Kylie Masse of Canada then won the gold in 27.31.