By Ian Ransom
PARIS (Reuters) -Evergreen Swede Sarah Sjostrom's late decision to enter the women's 100 metres freestyle at the Paris Olympics paid off in spades as she trumped a top-quality field to clinch the gold medal in the blue riband sprint on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old Sjostrom had planned to put all her eggs in the 50m freestyle basket and help Sweden in the relays but changed her mind after realising there were two days' rest between her individual events.
Even then, she had second thoughts about the decision after swimming the leadoff leg in the 4x100m freestyle relay on day one in Paris after Sweden came fifth.
"I didn't think I would swim the 100 free," she told reporters after reeling in American silver medallist Torri Huske and Hong Kong's bronze-winner Siobhan Haughey.
"Honestly, after the freestyle relay the first day, I told my coach straight away.
"I was like, 'No, I don't think 100 free is for me. I want to do the 50, I want to rest until the 50', and he was like, 'No way, you need to go out there and see what you can do, no matter the outcome'.
"I didn't know exactly what I could do and I definitely didn't know what everyone else could do. I'm super proud of myself that I tried this."
The world record holder showed she still has what it takes as she swept to her second gold medal at the age of 30, eight years after winning the 100m butterfly at the Rio Olympics.
Sjostrom had plenty of ground to make up at the turn but put in a sizzling final 50 metres, sweeping down lane seven to touch the wall in 52.16 seconds at La Defense Arena, 0.13 seconds ahead of Huske.
After straining to see the result, she screamed in delight and punched the water.
"I think my reaction said everything. I didn't really know where I was exactly when I finished. I just felt like I had a really good race and I was so in my zone."
Though regarded as one of the greats of women's swimming, her one Olympic gold prior to Paris seemed a disappointing return for a swimmer of her standing.
Now she has Sweden's first 100m freestyle gold to match her world record, and more success may follow in the 50m.
She may even struggle to find room in her trophy cabinet, stuffed as it is with four other Olympic medals and no fewer than 25 world championship medals.
The latest gold may also silence any nagging regrets about the ice skating accident in the leadup to the Tokyo Olympics that may have cost her a 100m podium.
Sjostrom worked hard to recover from the broken elbow she suffered and took a brave silver in the 50m freestyle at those Games.
She had to settle for fifth in the 100 freestyle, though, and seventh in the 100 butterfly.
Huske burnished her outstanding Olympics, having upset teammate Gretchen Walsh for the 100m butterfly gold at Paris.
The 100 and 200m runner-up at Tokyo three years ago, Haughey's bronze was her fourth Olympic medal in total and second at Paris after coming third in the 200 freestyle.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
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