Therese Alshammar: Sweden’s multi-stroke champion
Therese Alshammar is one of the most incredible Sweden swimmers, who has won awards and accolades in the butterfly and freestyle events, at every world stage. In her undisputed career, Alshammar has demonstrated her aggressive swimming capabilities many
times to ensure her podium finish.
She represented Sweden in the main events at the Olympic Games, World Championships and the European Championships, while majority of her accolades belong to the latter competition.
Her international career started with her participation in the 1997 European Long Course Championships, where she claimed a silver medal for the 4*100m freestyle relay and a bronze medal in 50m freestyle. Alshammar’s stupendous performance at her first international
meet paved her way for the 1997 World Short Course Championships. She was unable to reach the podium in the individual events at these championships, but won a bronze medal in the 4*100m freestyle relay.
In 1999, she became Sweden’s number one freestyle swimmer and qualified for the European Championships in the events of 50m freestyle, 4*100m freestyle and 4*100m medley relay. Alshammar successfully grabbed a gold medal in medley relay and reached the podium
twice for the silver medal in the 50m freestyle and 4*100m freestyle relay. The same year at the World Championships, Alshammar failed to secure a podium finish in the individual events but sustained her bronze crown in the 4*100m medley relay.
Her excellence continued in 2000, where she first accomplished four gold medals at the European Long Course Championships in the events of 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 4*100m freestyle relay and the 4*100m medley relay. After a few months, she won the
hearts of the arena by conquering the same events at the 2000 World Championships in Athens. Her dominant performance at the world stage qualified her for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, where she pocketed two silver medals in 50m and 100m freestyle, along
with the bronze medal in the 4*100m freestyle relay.
Three medals at her first Olympics accompanied her to the 2001 World Long Course Championships, in Fukuoka. Alshammar then replaced her event of medley relay with the 50m butterfly. This was her first participation in the butterfly event at any world meet
and she made an astounding effort to win silver medal in the 50m butterfly and the 50m freestyle.
In 2002, Alshammar won three medals at the European Long Course Championships in Berlin, including a gold medal in the 50m freestyle and two silver medals in 4*100m freestyle and the 4*100m medley relay. The same year at World Short Course Championships,
she cruised her way to win four gold medals in her main events.
In 2004, Alshammar managed to defend her title of 50m freestyle at the European Long Course Championships, whereas, she earned a bronze medal at the same event in the World Short Course Championships.
Alshammar’s talent came into sight at the 2006 Budapest European Championships, where she regained her 50m butterfly title and reached the podium for the silver medal in the 50m freestyle. After a few months, she made a splash into the world titles, as she
conquered the crown for same event at the World Championships in Shanghai. She also won a silver medal in the freestyle relay and a bronze in the medley relay.
In the 2007 Melbourne World Championships, Alshammar stood on the top of the podium for a stupendous effort in the 50m butterfly. At the 2010 World Championships in Dubai, Alshammar proved her talent by earning the crown of the 50m butterfly, along with
the silver in the 100m butterfly.
In 2011, Alshammar aims to raise the flag of her country at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai by achieving the podium finish. She also aims to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.
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