Emily Jane Seebohm, OAM (born 5 June 1992) is an Australian swimmer. She has appeared at four Olympic Games between 2008 and 2021; and won three Olympic gold medals, five world championship gold medals and seven Commonwealth Games gold medals. She specialises in the backstroke, but has also won medals in the freestyle and individual medley.
Career
At the age of 14, Seebohm won the 100 m backstroke at the 2007 Australian Championships, the selection meet for the 2007 World Aquatics Championships. At the World Championships in Melbourne, Seebohm won a gold medal in the 4 × 100 m medley relay.[1] She also placed fourth in the final of the 100 m backstroke and 14th in the 50 m backstroke.[2][3]
Seebohm also won gold in both the 100 m backstroke and 4 × 100 m medley relay at the 2007 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.
On 6 March 2008 at the Brisbane Catholic Schoolgirls Championships, Seebohm broke the 50 m backstroke Commonwealth and Australian records with a time 28.10 seconds, missing Li Yang's then world record of 28.09 by one hundredth of a second.[4]
On 22 March 2008, Seebohm broke the world record in the 50 m backstroke in the semi-finals of the 2008 Australian Championships, with a time of 27.95s, taking five hundredths of a second off Hayley McGregory's world record of 28.00[4] set only 15 days earlier on 7 March 2008.[5] A day later, this record was beaten again, this time by Australian Sophie Edington in a time of 27.67 seconds in the final of the same event.[6] Seebohm decided not to swim in the final of this event as it is not an Olympic event and instead decided to focus on the semi-final of the 100 m backstroke. Her decision paid off when she became the first Australian woman to break the one-minute barrier in the event, her 59.78 making her the fifth-fastest of all-time.[6] She then lowered the record to 59.58 s in the final, winning the Australian championship and gaining selection for the Olympic Games in Beijing.[7]
At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Seebohm placed ninth overall in the 100 m backstroke, barely missing a spot in the final. Seebohm then swam in both the preliminaries and final of the 4 × 100 m medley relay, in which Australia won the gold medal.
At the 2009 World Aquatics Championships in Rome, Seebohm won the bronze medal in the 100 m backstroke with a time of 58.88.[8][9] She also won silver in the 4 × 100 m medley relay,[10] and placed 7th in the 50 m backstroke and 15th in the 200 m IM.[11][12]
At the 2009 Australian Short Course Championships, Seebohm broke the world record in the 100 m IM in 58.54.[13]
At the 2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, on the first night she defeated Olympic champion Natalie Coughlin in the 100 m backstroke, taking gold in championship record time, as well as taking silver in the 50 m butterfly. On the second night, she took silver in the 100 m freestyle in her first attempt at the event at international level. On night 3 she took another silver in the 4 × 100 m freestyle relay. Final night saw her take the gold in the 200 m individual medley, topping world champion and record holder Ariana Kukors. Later on in the night she broke the 100 m backstroke championship record in the lead off leg of the 4 × 100 m medley relay, Australia finished with silver. Later on in the year she collected 8 medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
Seebohm was tracked by the BBC as part of their series World Olympic Dreams, which followed her as she prepared for London 2012.
At the 2012 London Olympics, Seebohm set a new Olympic record in a 100m backstroke qualifier and was heavily backed to win the gold in the final of the event but fell just short and gained a silver medal.
At the 2013 Australian Swimming Championships she won gold in the 50 m and 100 m backstroke and silver in 200 m individual medley and bronze in the 200 m backstroke events, qualifying for the 2013 World Aquatics Championships. At the World Championships, she teamed up with Bronte Campbell, Emma McKeon and Brittany Elmslie in the heats of the 4 × 100 m freestyle, finishing second in their heat and overall.[14] In the final sisters Cate and Bronte Campbell, Emma McKeon and Alicia Coutts won the silver medal, finishing 0.12 seconds behind the United States.[15]
At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Seebohm represented Australia in both the 100 m and 200 m backstroke and won silver in the 4 × 100 m medley relay.[16][17]
In June 2021, Seebohm qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics after finishing second in the 100m backstroke event at the Australian Olympic trials in a time of 58.59.[18] The Tokyo Olympics were Seebohm's fourth consecutive Olympic Games, making her only one of three Australian swimmers to compete at four Olympic Games.[citation needed] At those Olympics she won a gold medal in the 4 x 100 metre medley relay, and a bronze medal in 200 metre backstroke.[19]
International Swimming League
In the Autumn of 2019 she was member of the inaugural International Swimming League swimming for the Energy Standard International Swim Club, who won the team title in Las Vegas, Nevada, in December.[20]
Career Best Times
|
|
World records
Long course metres
No. | Event | Time | Meet | Location | Date | Status | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 4x100 m medley relay[a] | 3:55.74 | 2007 World Aquatics Championships | Melbourne, Australia | 31 March 2007 | Former | [21] | |
2 | 50 m backstroke | 27.95 | sf | Australian Swimming Championships | Sydney, Australia | 22 March 2008 | Former | [22] |
3 | 4x100 m medley relay (2)[b] | 3:52.69 | 2008 Summer Olympics | Beijing, China | 17 August 2008 | Former | [23] |
a split 1:00.79 (1st leg); with Leisel Jones (2nd leg), Jessica Schipper (3rd leg), Libby Lenton (4th leg)
b split 59.33 (1st leg); with Leisel Jones (2nd leg), Jessica Schipper (3rd leg), Libby Trickett (4th leg)
Short course metres
No. | Event | Time | Meet | Location | Date | Status | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 100 m individual medley | 58.54 | Australian Short Course Championships | Hobart, Australia | 10 August 2009 | Former | [24] |
Records not set in finals: h – heat; sf – semifinal; r – relay 1st leg; rh – relay heat 1st leg; b – B final; † – en route to final mark; tt – time trial
Olympic records
Long course metres
No. | Event | Time | Meet | Location | Date | Status | Notes | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 4x100 m medley relay[a] | 3:52.69 | 2008 Summer Olympics | Beijing, China | 17 August 2008 | Former | Former WR, OC, NR | [25] | |
2 | 100 m backstroke | 58.23 | h | 2012 Summer Olympics | London, United Kingdom | 29 July 2012 | Former | Former OC, NR | [26] |
Records not set in finals: h – heat; sf – semifinal; r – relay 1st leg; rh – relay heat 1st leg; b – B final; † – en route to final mark; tt – time trial
a split 59.33 (backstroke leg); with Leisel Jones (breaststroke leg ), Jessicah Schipper (butterfly leg), Libby Trickett (freestyle leg)
Personal
When Seebohm was three she moved with her family from Adelaide to Brisbane, Queensland so her mother could coach swimming.[27] Seebohm attended St Joseph's Catholic Primary School until Grade 7, and then moved on to St John Fisher College, a Catholic school for girls. Both schools are in Bracken Ridge. She attended St John Fisher College up until the end of 2008, where she completed grade 10, and previously attended St Margaret's Anglican Girls School. Her father John Seebohm was also an accomplished footballer in the SANFL, who played over 300 games for the Glenelg Tigers.Emily has a swimming complex name after her in Bracken Ridge.
On 26 January 2009, Seebohm was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.[28]
In 2015, Seebohm began a relationship with fellow swimmer, Mitch Larkin. The couple owned a house together in Hendra, Brisbane. In July 2018, Seebohm announced their separation.[29]
Seebohm has endometriosis and is an ambassador for the non-profit organisation Endometriosis Australia [30]
In January 2022 she appeared as a contestant in the 8th season of the Australian version of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!
See also
- List of Olympic medalists in swimming (women)
- List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (women)
- List of Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming (women)
- World record progression 50 metres backstroke
- World record progression 100 metres individual medley
- World record progression 4 × 100 metres medley relay
References
- ^ "2007 World Championships results: Women's 4x100 m medley relay final" (PDF). 31 March 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 April 2007.
- ^ "2007 World Championships results: Women's 100 m backstroke final" (PDF). 27 March 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 April 2007.
- ^ "2007 World Championships results: Women's 50 m backstroke semifinals" (PDF). 28 March 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2007.
- ^ a b "Rice and Seebohm smash world records". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 March 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2008.
- ^ "McGregory breaks 50m backstroke world record". ABC News. 9 March 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2008.
- ^ a b Cowley, Michael (24 March 2008). "Teenager's hold on world time short-lived". The Age. Retrieved 24 March 2008.[dead link]
- ^ Alex Murdoch (25 March 2008). "Seebohm sends a warning to world champ Coughlin". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ "2009 World Championships results: Women's 100 m backstroke final" (PDF). 28 July 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 August 2009.
- ^ Todd Balym (29 July 2009). "Seebohm slays Beijing demons with bronze". WA Today. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
- ^ "2009 World Championships results: Women's 4x100 m medley relay final" (PDF). 1 August 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 August 2009.
- ^ "2009 World Championships results: Women's 50 m backstroke final" (PDF). 30 July 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 April 2012.
- ^ "2009 World Championships results: Women's 200 m IM semifinals" (PDF). 26 July 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 August 2009.
- ^ "Australian's Libby Trickett, Christian Sprenger and Emily Seebohm set world short-course marks". 10 August 2009.
- ^ "Heat results of Women's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay at the 2013 World Aquatics Championships" (pdf). Omega Timing. 28 July 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
- ^ "Final results of Women's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay at the 2013 World Aquatics Championships" (pdf). Omega Timing. 28 July 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
- ^ "Emily Seebohm". Australian Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 27 June 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
- ^ "Emily Seebohm". Rio 2016 Olympics. Australian Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 25 February 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
- ^ "Heartbreak behind teen's world record". NewsComAu. 13 June 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ^ "Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo 2021". The Roar. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "Club Rosters – International Swimming League". Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ "World championships gold in 400-medley-relay". Swimming World Magazine. 31 March 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ "Rice and Seebohm smash world records". Sydney Morning Herald. 23 March 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ Linden, Julian (17 August 2008). "Australia wins women's medley relay". Reuters. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ "Three world records tumble at Australian championships". Reuters. 10 August 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ Linden, Julian (17 August 2008). "Australia wins women's medley relay". Reuters. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ "Seebohm breaks Olympic record". ABC News Australia. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- ^ "Emily Seebohm's athlete profile". Yahoo!7. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012.
- ^ "SEEBOHM, Emily Jane". It's An Honour. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Archived from the original on 25 August 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
- ^ "End of line for swimming's golden couple". Coffs Coast Advocate. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
- ^ "I won Olympic golds with endometriosis. Anything is possible | Emily Seebohm". TheGuardian.com. 19 March 2017.
External links
- Emily Seebohm at Swimming Australia (archived) (archive 2)
- Emily Seebohm at FINA (archived)
- Emily Seebohm at Olympics.com
- Emily Seebohm at Swimrankings.net
- Emily Seebohm on Twitter