Welcome to the final day of the 2026 Malmsten Swim Open Stockholm! While the iconic Sarah Sjostrom has wrapped up her races, the competition is far from over, and we have some exciting events lined up to keep us on the edge of our seats.
The Final Day's Lineup
Today, we'll witness a range of events, from the highly anticipated 100m freestyle featuring Olympic medalist Siobhan Haughey, who is aiming for a potential gold after her victory in the 50m freestyle last night, to the men's 50m free, where American Brooks Curry has set the pace with a sizzling 22.04 heat swim.
The Dutch breaststroke trio, Caspar Corbeau, Arno Kamminga, and Tes Schouten, are also expected to make waves, along with Destin Lasco and Helena Rosendahl Bach, who are ready to battle it out in the 200m IM and 200m fly, respectively.
Men's 200 IM: A Subdued Start
The men's 200m IM final kicked off the evening's session, but it didn't quite live up to the hype. None of the competitors managed to break the 2-minute barrier, let alone the 2:01 mark. Czech swimmer Jan Cejka took the gold with a time of 2:02.14, a new personal best for him, but it was a far cry from the meet, world, and European records.
What makes this particularly fascinating is the contrast between Cejka's achievement and the overall performance. While he improved his personal best, the rest of the field seemed to struggle, raising questions about the overall form and tactics employed by the swimmers.
Women's 200 Fly: A Dominant Display
In the women's 200m fly final, Helena Rosendahl Bach put on a clinic, dominating the field by over six seconds and claiming the gold medal. Her time of 2:07.47 was a new season-best, and she came within a second of Franziska Hentke's longstanding meet record.
Bach's performance was impressive, but what stood out to me was her consistency. Her splits were nearly identical, indicating a well-executed race strategy. This level of control and precision is a testament to her skill and mental fortitude.
Men's 800 Free: A Teenage Sensation
The men's 800m freestyle event was a showcase of youthful talent, with 19-year-old Johannes Liebmann stealing the show. Liebmann, a German swimmer, delivered a monster personal best of 7:37.94, obliterating his previous best and setting a new meet record.
Personally, I think Liebmann's performance is a testament to the depth of talent in the sport. To see a teenager rise to such heights is inspiring and a reminder that swimming is a sport that can produce incredible stories and performances.
Women's 100 Breast: A Close Battle
The women's 100m breast final was a tight contest, with Lithuanian Kotryna Teterevkova taking the gold in 1:07.12. Polish swimmer Barbara Mazurkiewicz was just 0.03 seconds behind, while Tes Schouten, the Olympic medalist, had to settle for bronze.
What many people don't realize is that in swimming, margins of victory can be incredibly small. A fraction of a second can make the difference between a medal and a near-miss. This event highlights the precision and skill required to excel at the highest level.
Men's 50 Free: Just Missing the Mark
In the men's 50m free final, Austria's Heiko Gigler took the gold, but the real story was the absence of a sub-22-second performance. Brooks Curry, who had already set a lifetime best in the 100m free, just missed the mark, finishing with a 22.27.
From my perspective, this event showcases the fine line between success and disappointment in swimming. A hundredth of a second can determine the outcome, and while Curry's performance was impressive, it's a reminder that records and personal bests are often just out of reach.
Women's 800 Free: A German Double
The women's 800m free final saw a German one-two, with Isabel Gose taking the gold and Maya Werner claiming the bronze. Gose's time of 8:24.69 was just shy of her meet record, but it was still an impressive performance.
This event highlights the depth of talent in German swimming, especially in the distance events. To have two swimmers on the podium is a testament to the country's strong swimming program and the hard work and dedication of its athletes.
Looking Ahead
As we wrap up the final day of the 2026 Malmsten Swim Open Stockholm, it's clear that this competition has provided us with some incredible performances and insights into the world of swimming. From personal bests to close battles, these events showcase the beauty and intensity of the sport.
I'm excited to see how these swimmers continue to develop and improve, and I look forward to the next chapter in their journeys. Until then, let's savor these memories and the excitement they've brought us.
