Emily Seebohm Finishes Third in 200 Back at Australian Swimming World Trials; Out of World Championships For First Time Since 2005

emily-seebohm-aus-hands-on-face-2017-world-champs

Photo Courtesy: SIPA USA

2017 World Champion Emily Seebohm finished third in the 200 back on Friday night at the Australian Swimming World Trials in Brisbane with a 2:08.58. Seebohm was also fourth in the 100 back on Monday night and for the first time since 2005 will not be swimming at the World Championships for Australia.

Seebohm has been on Australia’s World Championships team since 2007 when she was a 14-year-old in front of the home crowd in Melbourne. She has been in the Worlds final of the 100 back at every Championships since placing fourth 12 years ago. She is also the two-time reigning World Champion in the 200 back, winning the 2015 and 2017 World titles.

It is unclear exactly what happened to Seebohm as she was a 2:08.89 earlier in the year at the FINA Champions Series in Budapest. She has been one of the consistent performers on the world stage the last decade and would have been one of the medal favorites for both the 100 and 200 in Gwangju had she qualified.

Seebohm, 27, should not be ruled out of qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Games next year.

Kaylee McKeown (2:06.35) won the 200 ahead of Minna Atherton (2:06.82) as the two teenagers got under the Worlds qualifying time to swim both the 100 and 200 back at World Championships in five weeks. Atherton got the upper hand in the 100 earlier in the week over McKeown as they were both under the qualifying standard there as well.

McKeown is now third in the world for 2019 while Atherton sits sixth. McKeown, 17, will have a chance to improve on her fourth place finish from the 2017 Worlds in the 200 back. Atherton will be making her first World Championships appearance.

Molly O’Callaghan (2:13.81), Tahlia Thornton (2:14.21), Abbey Webb (2:15.09), Jess Unicomb (2:15.95) and Kirrily Siebenhausen (2:16.27) also placed in the top eight in the final.

2019 World Rankings:

Margherita Panziera, ITA, 2:05.72
Kylie Masse, CAN, 2:05.94
Kaylee McKeown, AUS, 2:06.35
Regan Smith, USA, 2:06.47
Taylor Ruck, CAN, 2:06.70
Minna Atherton, AUS, 2:06.82
Katinka Hosszu, HUN, 2:06.94
Kathleen Baker, USA, 2:08.08

Event 27  Women 200 LC Metre Backstroke
==================================================================
        World: W 2:04.06  3/08/2012 Missy Franklin, USA
 Commonwealth: C 2:05.68  29/07/2017Emily Seebohm, Australia
   Australian: A 2:05.68  29/07/2017Emily Seebohm, Brisbane Grammar
   All Comers: R 2:05.98  8/04/2018 Kylie Masse, Canada
         WCQT: Q 2:07.64
 Meet Qualifying:  2:22.08
    Name            Age Team              Prelims     Finals  FINA       
==================================================================
                          === Finals ===                          
 
  1 MCKEOWN, KAYLEE  17 USCS              2:13.06    2:06.35Q  946  
    r:+0.58  29.72      1:02.00 (32.28)
        1:34.57 (32.57)     2:06.35 (31.78)
  2 ATHERTON, MINNA  19 BGRAM             2:07.83    2:06.82Q  936  
    r:+0.62  29.48      1:01.86 (32.38)
        1:34.53 (32.67)     2:06.82 (32.29)
  3 SEEBOHM, EMILY   27 BGRAM             2:12.01    2:08.58   898  
             30.06      1:02.79 (32.73)
        1:35.87 (33.08)     2:08.58 (32.71)
  4 O'CALLAGHAN, MO  15 STPET             2:14.36    2:13.81   796  
    r:+0.61  31.13      1:04.66 (33.53)
        1:39.54 (34.88)     2:13.81 (34.27)
  5 THORNTON, TAHLI  16 BGRAM             2:14.72    2:14.21   789  
    r:+0.59  31.19      1:04.93 (33.74)
        1:39.67 (34.74)     2:14.21 (34.54)
  6 WEBB, ABBEY      18 GIND              2:18.60    2:15.09   774  
    r:+0.67  32.19      1:07.44 (35.25)
        1:42.27 (34.83)     2:15.09 (32.82)
  7 UNICOMB, JESSIC  22 GUSC              2:15.42    2:15.95   759  
    r:+0.64  32.24      1:06.92 (34.68)
        1:41.67 (34.75)     2:15.95 (34.28)
  8 SIEBENHAUSEN, K  19 RACKL             2:17.09    2:16.27   754  
    r:+0.64  31.13      1:05.35 (34.22)
        1:40.76 (35.41)     2:16.27 (35.51)

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Pamela Wu

4 years ago

She made it every-time since 2005, that’s 14 long years! Awesome swimmer your are! No doubt!!

Vanessa Essam

4 years ago

Come on Swimming World Mag – that photo is old, Emily handled the obvious disappointment like the champ she is.

Christie Tuxworth

4 years ago

Soz Emily but…Well done Kaylee. Brilliant Sharon McKeown? Go KMac!!

Kevin Otway

4 years ago

A house hold name.

Jocelyne Humbert O'Kane

4 years ago

A champion like this should be allowed to go

commonwombat

4 years ago

Reply to Jocelyne Humbert O'Kane

Except that you are limited to 2 entries per nation. Both Atherton & McKeown finished ahead of her in both her events (100/200 back) and both bettered the qualifying times in each whereas Seebohm failed to do so. She didn’t enter any other events so there is just no wiggle-room for selectors to throw her a life-line.

Tahia Wilcockson

4 years ago

Yes that is def an old pic she wore a nice red suit and it just gives her more time to focus on the olympics Go Em Go your a champ in our eyes ?

Anonymous

4 years ago

Emily was so gracious last night in her third place. She was happy to take photos with our kids after the race. An amazing sports woman.

Reece Turner

4 years ago

Maybe less time riding horses and more time in the pool??

Jenny Cole

4 years ago

You are a superstar x

Miriam Lawler

4 years ago

Sweety, you are still a dedicated champion in Aussie hearts..the years of solid training, hardships and encouragement you have given to so many is not forgotten and never will be…THANK YOU a real true AUSSIE CHAMPION….

mike moran

4 years ago

Reply to Miriam Lawler

Totally agree – icon of women’s backstroke, and still not too old to make the Olympics! Keep going Emily.

Nadine Wright

4 years ago

You are a beautiful champion well done Emily for a solid career, keep smiling?

Sholto Mckeown

4 years ago

She’s a true champion and will be back for Olympics in Tokyo.

Pamela Iverach

4 years ago

Oh well, she has done her country and herself proud! Always new talent coming along! Wish you well Em!x?❤️?

Chris Boensel

4 years ago

It eventually happens to the greatest of athletes. Her resume speaks for itself. 14 years being on top of the world is a long run, especially in the swimming world. Pretty sure she will keep on grinding.

B.J. Bedford Miller

4 years ago

Been there. It sucks. Emily, you will make it through this and come out stronger, smarter and more humble on the other side. But I get it… and I’m sorry.

Veronica Sussens

4 years ago

You will always be our champion ???

Tamara Crisp

4 years ago

Both McKeown + Atherton swam incredibe races from start to finish, and are future superstars. Em has nothing to be ashamed of, she has been at the very top of her game for SO long. It’s not the end for Em, but the beginning for others which is what makes it such an incredible sport!

Karen Minnikin

4 years ago

Your amazing Emily Seebhom xx