arena extends relationship with Olympic champion Sarah Sjöström

arena has extended its highly successful relationship with Swedish superstar Sarah Sjöström, signing a new sponsorship agreement that will run through to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

The 23-year-old from Stockholm is the world’s undisputed 100m butterfly champion, currently holding the Olympic and World titles, along with the long- and short-course world records.

On 7th August, 2016 in Rio De Janeiro, Sarah became the first Swedish woman to win an Olympic gold medal in swimming, as she dominated the Olympic 100m butterfly final and broke her own world record in the process. It was the fifth time she set a new world mark in the event. Over the following four days she added the 200m freestyle silver and 100m freestyle bronze to her medal tally, becoming only the second woman in history to win medals in the 100 butterfly and 100 & 200m freestyle at the same Olympics.

“I’m really happy with arena,” said Sarah, “and there was no hesitation for me to continue the great relationship we have. Being able to wear the world’s best gear, and also be involved on the cutting edge during its development, is obviously a big advantage, but to me being part of the arena family and knowing that I have them in my corner is just as important. I hope the next four years are as fun and successful as the last four.”

“Sarah is a dream brand ambassador,” said arena co-CEO Giuseppe Musciacchio. “She’s supremely talented, professional, dedicated and hard-working, and is always smiling. In addition, she’s committed to making a difference through social programmes such as the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation and Project Playground. As one of arena’s standard-bearers, she’s frequently involved in product development and promotion, and in fact right now she’s doing a photo shoot in Luxembourg with the new colour ranges of the Carbon racing suit range. We’re looking forward to strengthening our relationship and seeing her grow still more in the next four years.”

Having returned from a training camp in South Africa at the beginning of this year, Sarah’s main focus in 2017 will be July’s World Championships in Budapest. She will swim WC qualifications at the Swim Open Stockholm in April, the Swedish Championships in late June/early July in Borås, the Swedish Short Course Championships in Jönköping in early November, and then close out the year with December’s European Short Course Championships in Copenhagen.

Sarah Sjöström Profile

Born 17 August 1993 in Stockholm, Sweden
Coached by Johan Wahlberg at the Swedish Swimming Excellence Centre, Stockholm
Olympic medals: 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze (2016)
World Championship medals: 4 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze (2015, 2013, 2009)
European Championship medals: 10 gold, 6 silver, 3 bronze (2016, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2008)
First Swedish woman to win an Olympic gold medal in swimming
Won her first international gold medal at the age of 14 (2008 European Championships, 100m butterfly)
First woman in history to swim 50m butterfly in under 25 seconds (LC) and 100m butterfly in under 55 seconds (SC)
Currently world record holder in 100m butterfly (LC and SC), 50m butterfly (LC), 200m freestyle (SC)
Ambassador for the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation and Project Playground, an organization that works with vulnerable children and gives them more opportunities through sports, organized activity and social activities.
Hobbies: Photography, climbing, & her Great Danes, Nellie and Maximus
Motto: The door to success is the one marked PUSH