Swedish Swimmers Face Mixed Results at the 2025 World Championships
Swedish swimmers see varied success at the 2025 World Championships, with Erik Persson struggling and Victor Johansson performing well.
Key Points
- • Erik Persson eliminated in semifinals of 200m breaststroke, finishing 13th.
- • Persson's time was 18 hundredths slower than his season best.
- • Victor Johansson finished fourth in the 400m freestyle and fifth in the 800m freestyle.
- • Persson aims for the 2028 Olympics despite recent challenges.
At the ongoing 2025 World Championships in Singapore, Swedish swimmer Erik Persson experienced disappointment as he was eliminated in the semifinals of the 200-meter breaststroke, finishing in 13th place. Persson recorded a time of 2:10.85, which was 18 hundredths of a second slower than his season best and a significant 3.19 seconds off his own Swedish record set in 2021. In his reflection on the competition, Persson remarked, "Swimming is a mystery even if you have been doing it for a long time," indicating the unpredictable nature of the sport.
Despite these challenges, the 31-year-old swimmer is focused on his aspirations for the future, particularly aiming for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, his fourth appearance at the Games. He expressed determination: "I see no reason why it shouldn't be possible" to return to his former competitive level. Notably, Persson did manage to improve his time from the heats by nearly half a second, suggesting some effective tactical adjustments were made despite not qualifying for the finals.
In a contrasting performance, fellow Swedish swimmer Victor Johansson excelled, finishing fourth in the 400 meters freestyle and fifth in the 800 meters freestyle, showcasing a stronger showing among the Swedish contingent. This mix of results highlights the varying levels of success experienced by Swedish swimmers at this prestigious international event.