SYDNEY OPEN: Celebrated four-time Olympian Emily Seebohm Reveals Plans To Swim On And She’s Taking Son Samson Along For The Ride
Four-time Olympian Emily Seebohm has revealed that even if she misses this year’s Paris Games it’s not the end of the road for one of Australia’s most celebrated Olympic swimmers.
Seebohm will set herself for the lucrative World Cup circuit and the World Short Course Championships in Budapest in December.
The 31-year-old seven-time Olympic medallist – three of them gold in relays – has wound up her pre-Trials racing schedule tonight in Sydney where she added another victory in the 200m backstroke to her win last night in the 100m backstroke, saying she and coach Matt Brown are on track.
It is seven months since Seebohm gave birth to son Samson and she is still breastfeeding while training and preparing for her fifth Olympic Trials Meet at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre from June 10-15.
And the idea of taking Samson on team – whether it’s to the Olympics or on the World Cup or to the World Short Course – has been discussed positively with Swimming Australia.
“It used to be once you have a baby that’s it but now we see so many women in sport who are mum’s and travelling with their kids and they are included in the team environment,” said Seebohm.
“You see it with the Matildas (Australia’s women’s football team), the tennis players and on the Australian Water Polo team, it’s a stepping stone to keep mums in their sports longer.
“I am still breastfeeding Samson and have done so since he was born and I haven’t been away from him.
“Even if I don’t make it to Paris I want to keep swimming at the World Cups and World Short Course because I think I can keep improving.”
Remarkably, Seebohm (St Margaret’s, QLD) continues to drop her times – clocking 2:11.42 at the 2024 Sydney Open UniSport Nationals tonight – two seconds faster than her time swum at the Australian Open Championships on the Gold Coast last month.
Seebohm edged out fellow World Championship medallist and world record holder Minna Atherton (Bond, QLD) who was not far behind in 2:11.74, with Alice Campbell (QLD Uni of Technology) third in 2:17.52.
“Trials are obviously four-and-half weeks away so it’s getting really close now; I started swimming at meets in early January and February,” said Seebohm, who won individual bronze in the 200m backstroke in Tokyo.
“And to see the drop from 2:15 to 2:11 is quite good although I have expected faster the entire time; every time I swim a race I thought I’d actually go a bit faster and of course we haven’t had a chance to taper yet either or do anything differently.
“It’s just been a lot of hard work with coach Matt Brown reassuring me not to worry and that it will all come together in the end when we have a full taper, I’m more rested and with more time on my hands lots of things change.
“I’ve made some great steps forward leading into Trials so it’s just a matter of enjoying the next four-and-a-half weeks.”
Meanwhile in the women’s 100m freestyle final, 2023 World Junior gold and silver medallists Olivia Wunsch(Carlile, NSW) and Milla Jansen (Bond, QLD) were again 1-2 Wunsch touching first in 53.93 ahead of Jansen in 54.35 with Brittany Castelluzzo (Tea Tree Gully, SA) third in 55.28.
Wunsch and Jansen will be pushing hard for places in the top eight in the top-heavy women’s 100m freestyle final top eight at Trials.
Notably, former world-record holder Zac Stubblety-Cook delivered a 2:07.89 effort in the 200 breaststroke, a strong effort with the Aussie Trials approaching.
2024 Sydney Open UniSport Nationals, Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, FINALS:
WOMEN
100m freestyle
- Olivia Wunsch (Carlile, NSW) 53.93
- Milla Jansen (Bond, QLD) 4.35
- Brittany Castelluzzo (Tea Tree Gully, SA) 55.28
100m freestyle Multi-Class
- Alexa Leary (St Hilda’s, QLD) 59.37
- Emily Beecroft (Sunshine Coast University, QLD) 1:04.10
- Chloe Osborn (Australian Catholic University, Blacktown, NSW) 1:13.50
800m freestyle
- Jacinta Essam (Macquarie University, NSW) 8:48.88
- Tayla Martin (Carlile, NSW) 8:55.78
- Emily White (University of SA) 8:59.02
200m backstroke
- Emily Seebohm (St Margaret’s, QLD) 2:11.42
- Minna Atherton (Bond, QLD) 2:11.74
- Alice Campbell (QLD Uni of Technology) 2:17.52
100m backstroke Multi-Class
- Katja Dedekind (Yeronga Park, QLD) 1:09.19
- Madeleine McTernan (Sharks Aquatic, QLD) 1:12.30
- Jenna Jones (USC Spartans, QLD) 1:15.10
100m butterfly
- Rikako Ikee (JPN) 57.63
- Lizzie Dekkers (Chandler, QLD) 58.26
- Bella Grant (Australian Catholic University, NSW) 58.46
50m breaststroke
- Tilly King (Bond, QLD) 31.94
- Mia O’Leary (Bond, QLD) 32.00
- Sophie Martin (Somerville House, QLD) 32.10
200m IM Multi-Class
- Stephanie Bruzzese (PLC Sydney, NSW) 2:36.68
- Taylor Corry (Knox Pymble, NSW) 2:39.20
- Hannah Price (Campbelltown, NSW) 2:47.08
MEN
200m freestyle
- Flynn Southam (Bond, QLD) 1:48.57
- Harrison Turner (Nudgee, QLD) 1:49.25
- Wesley Roberts (SOPAC, NSW) 1:49.26
100m freestyle Multi-Class
- Tom Gallagher (Somerset, QLD) 52.36
- Rowan Crothers (Yeronga Park, QLD) 53.29
- Alex Tuckfield (Southern Sydney Swim Team, NSW) 55.07
1500m freestyle
- Matthew Galea (SOPAC, NSW) 15:32.80
- Benjamin Wainman (SOPAC, NSW) 16:12.00
- Ruben Langley (Carlile, NSW) 16:20.98
100m backstroke
- Kane Follows (NZL) 54.52
- Mark Nikolaev (Somerset, QLD/Visitor) 54.59
- Mitch Larkin (Chandler, QLD) 55.01
100m backstroke Multi-Class
- Timothy Hodge (University of Western Sydney, NSW) 1:03.90
- Declan Budd (Knox Pymble, NSW) 1:04.50
- Daniel Rigby (Knox Pymble, NSW) 1:14.23
200m breaststroke
- Zac Stubblety-Cook (Griffith University, QLD) 2:07.89
- Bailey Lello (Chandler, QLD) 2:11.27
- Joshua Collett (Bond, QLD) 2:12.34
50m butterfly
- Cameron McEvoy (Somerville House, QLD) 23.80
- Shaun Champion (University of Technology, Sydney, NSW) 23.85
- Ben Armbruster (Bond, QLD) 23.93
200m IM Multi-Class
- Liam Schluter (USC Spartans, QLD) 2:12.69
- Ricky Betar (USC Spartans, QLD) 2:18.10
- Daniel Rigby (Knox Pymble, NSW) 2:44.82
400IM
- Lewis Clareburt (NZL) 4:08.71
- Will Petric (Nunawading, VIC) 4:12.21
- Daiya Seto (JPN) 4:17.36
I certainly hope Seebohm can qualify for her 5th Olympics in at least one of the 2 backstroke events. Young Wunch broke 54sec for the 100m freestyle. So that’s an encouraging sign that she might make the Olympic relay squad. Petric homing in on a 400m IM berth too! Maybe he can break 2:10 soon.