Emily Seebohm is certainly not unknown in the global swimming community. But 2015 has been a year of enormous significance for the Australian, as she has posted 12 swims under 59 seconds in the 100-meter backstroke. One of those came earlier today in Doha at the FINA World Cup.
Seebohm posted her third-fastest performance ever in Qatar with a 58.34, just .11 off her lifetime best from the Olympic prelims in 2012 and eight hundredths behind the time she swam to win her first individual world championship gold medal.
No one else in history has been under 59 seconds in the 100 back as often as Seebohm, and she’s been the only person to do it more than twice in 2015. Not only does it show that Seebohm finally has a grip on the consistency she’s lacked previously in the 100 backstroke, but that she’s finally found a groove in the event that could take her all the way to the top of the Olympic medal stand next year in Brazil.
Seebohm was under Gemma Spofforth’s world record pace at 50 meters with a 28.54, which was just a tick slower than her pace at worlds. Though some would argue that the opening speed might have been too quick, Seebohm held on very well to split 29.80 in the final 50 meters today to post her fast time.
Though her fellow Aussie Mitch Larkin did his part to put the spotlight on himself in Doha with fast swims of his own, it’s undeniable that Seebohm made the biggest impact in Doha.
Congratulations to Emily Seebohm on earning the Swimming World Performance of the Week!