Agency :
Sarah Sjostrom dominated Cate Campbell in the final round of the freestyle skins race to lock up International Swimming League’s first season Most Valuable Player award as the glitzy new series concluded on Saturday.
The Swedish Olympian’s storming finish helped boost her Energy Standard outfit to the team title in the fast-paced professional league, designed to shake up swimming and expand the profile of a sport whose biggest moments traditionally come at the Olympics and World Championship.
And it saw her scoop the $50,000 season MVP with 243.5 points, just 3.5 points ahead of US star Caeleb Dressel.
“I’m very happy I was able to take this title,” said Sjostrom, who said the star-studded lineup and frantic all-finals format of the series made for a pressure-filled campaign.
“I was racing some of my biggest competitors in almost every race I had,” she said. “I’m not used to that tough racing that often so it was very good experience to race with that much pressure so often.
“I felt like I was swimming the world championships four times this season.” Sjostrom said the fact that ISL pitted men against women for the major season award was a drawing factor for her in an age when equality of pay in all walks of life, including sports, is a hot topic. “I think this is one of the best parts about the ISL that we race against the men,” she said.
Dressel, meanwhile, said he had no problem seeing a woman capture the crown.
“I don’t see that as any honor lost,” he said. “Yeah I got beat by a girl today — and I’m all right with that.”
Dressel, whose record eight medals at this year’s world championships included six golds, won the men’s skins race ahead of France’s Florent Manaudou and locked up the meet MVP award, worth $10,000.
Sarah Sjostrom dominated Cate Campbell in the final round of the freestyle skins race to lock up International Swimming League’s first season Most Valuable Player award as the glitzy new series concluded on Saturday.
The Swedish Olympian’s storming finish helped boost her Energy Standard outfit to the team title in the fast-paced professional league, designed to shake up swimming and expand the profile of a sport whose biggest moments traditionally come at the Olympics and World Championship.
And it saw her scoop the $50,000 season MVP with 243.5 points, just 3.5 points ahead of US star Caeleb Dressel.
“I’m very happy I was able to take this title,” said Sjostrom, who said the star-studded lineup and frantic all-finals format of the series made for a pressure-filled campaign.
“I was racing some of my biggest competitors in almost every race I had,” she said. “I’m not used to that tough racing that often so it was very good experience to race with that much pressure so often.
“I felt like I was swimming the world championships four times this season.” Sjostrom said the fact that ISL pitted men against women for the major season award was a drawing factor for her in an age when equality of pay in all walks of life, including sports, is a hot topic. “I think this is one of the best parts about the ISL that we race against the men,” she said.
Dressel, meanwhile, said he had no problem seeing a woman capture the crown.
“I don’t see that as any honor lost,” he said. “Yeah I got beat by a girl today — and I’m all right with that.”
Dressel, whose record eight medals at this year’s world championships included six golds, won the men’s skins race ahead of France’s Florent Manaudou and locked up the meet MVP award, worth $10,000.
