Seebohm adds surprise event at world SC

Monday, 10 December 2018:

EMILY SEEBOHM of Australia looks on following the Women's 100m Backstroke Final on the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at Optus Aquatic Centre on the Gold Coast, Australia.
EMILY SEEBOHM of Australia looks on following the Women's 100m Backstroke Final on the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at Optus Aquatic Centre on the Gold Coast, Australia.


She can't lay claim to being the "Iron Lady" of this week's world short course swimming titles in China.

But Australia's Emily Seebohm will still be steeling herself for a tough program when the six-day world titles begin at Hangzhou on Tuesday after adding an unlikely event.

The world champion backstroker will hope to inspire a 20-strong Australian team when she takes on six events in China including a surprise crack at 50m breaststroke.

Seebohm's program may not stack up against Hungary's "Iron Lady" Katinka Hosszu, who threatens to dominate the titles after entering eight events.

The three-time Olympic gold medallist is eyeing off a second straight medley trifecta after becoming the first woman to complete the feat at the last world short course titles where she contested 11 events.

Seebohm has put herself on a collision course with the Hungarian superstar in the 100m and 200m individual medley plus the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke events.

She is expected to push for gold in all three backstroke events and will hope to at least keep Hosszu honest in the IM.

Besides Seebohm's backstroke prowess, the Australian is also ranked world No.3 in 100m IM and No.4 in 200m IM this year.

Her sole event that won't feature Hosszu is the 50m breaststroke.

While a surprise entry, Seebohm is still ranked world No.5 in the 50m breaststroke and will fancy a medal with top four ranked swimmers Yuliya Efimova of Russia and England's Imogen Clark not competing in China.

Seebohm is still buzzing from boosting her national short course title tally to a record 31 with five gold at the recent trials.

She hopes to inspire an Australian team boasting seven rookies.

The Dolphins have been bolstered by the likes of middle distance star Ariarne Titmus, Seebohm's ex-partner and ex-world backstroke champion Mitch Larkin and former national sprint king Cameron McEvoy.

McEvoy hoped the short course world titles experience would help prepare the Dolphins for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

"It gives you that experience in uncharted waters in a way because it is so infrequent to race internationally," said McEvoy, ranked in the world's top five in 50m-100m freestyle.

"By the time you get to one of the more important competitions such as the Olympics you have a bigger toolkit to work with as you go into that competition."






AAP






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