If you know anything about swimming you will recognise this girl. Sarah Sjöström is a world class swimmer. Earlier this summer she broke the world record on the women's 100 metre butterfly in the World Championships in Rome. And she did it twice! First in the semi final, and then again in the final when the won the gold medal. Back in March of 2008 Sarah, then an unknown 14 year old, shocked the swimming world when she won the 100 metre butterfly gold in the European Championships. Later that year she made her Olympic debut in the Beijing Games. I met her on Saturday during the Haninge Day celebrations when Sarah received a bracelet with the inscription World Champion from the Mayor of Haninge. And as a surprise birthday gift the municipality gave her a paid driver's licence course. I asked Sarah about her favorite places in Haninge and she picked the Torvalla swimming arena and Cafe Momo at the mall. After I shot a few portraits I told Sarah that I had made a photomosaic after she won that gold last summer. When she heard that she got a bit excited and we walked over to where her family was waiting. It turns out that Sarah's dad Göran had made a poster from my mosaic and it's been hanging on a wall at their place ever since. If I get my stationary computer up and running I will try to make a new mosaic from Sarah's latest world record swim. Sarah who turned sixteen in August is now attending secondary school at the nearby Fredrika Bremer School where she is studying media.
19 comments:
Antar att du redan vet det.
Men fan vad du är grym asså!
bravo pour ce portrait de championne, c'est une tres grande championne de natation.
What a great story to go along with the portrait. A small world that they had used your images before.
p.s. thanks for the pointer towards the flickr photostream on my blog, Steffe. I've addded it, and you are right - it's a cool little feature.
Congratulations, Sarah!
Great girl, fine portrait and, it seems, a lucky photomosaic! We'll see the next one...
what a story!
(btw i would never have believed this girl to be only 16)
What an honor to meet her! The portrait is beautiful.
Congratulations. A future Olympian
Tack för det Krille!
I sometimes email people when I make these types of mosaics. I have heard back from a few athletes that liked what I have done. I can't remember if I emailed Sarah about this. She's already an Olympian Mo, and I have a feeling she could win an Olympic medal in London.
That is a remarkable achievement and one she and your country can be very proud. Wow, only 16. I guess she'll be competing for many years. Multi-Gold medalist in the Olympics??!!
I really like your post on the Thais in your country. Thai food is probably my favorite of all foreign cuisines. Delicious. And the people are so nice and very attractive.
Great posts!!
I'll bet she went home as pleased to have met you as you were to have met her. It's often a two way street. Great photo, great story.
(According to this test I obviously don't know anything about swimming but that's OK and also very true.)
She does look older than 16, I'd have to agree with Ineke about that.
Must be tricky to concentrate on the day-in day-out school routine while maintaining a sports career at this level. However does one focus?
Real good portrait.
Nice photo of a sporty young girl.
I also like the reflection in the window, as a nice add to the photo.
A very nice portrait indeed of this young champion!!
Fab portrait!
I know what you mean Per. Being able to focus on both school, and a career as a world class swimmer must be hard. I should point out that Sarah has a great swimming coach, Carl Jenner, and some of the credit for her great results over the last couple of years should obviously go to him.
Nice photo Steffe. Well done Sarah, I shall certainly be cheering you on in London.
that is incredible. How amazing to talk to such an athlete and have your photo in their home? She was so flattered by your work, too. So nice!
I'm curious to know how you know or have access to so many athletes? Is it that your town is small or that you're known for taking photographs of them? What an experience!
I haven't met and photographed that may athletes. Perhaps you have seen some of the mosaics I have done?
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