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Iron Lady standing in way of Seebohm's double glory

Australia's Emily Seebohm is chasing backstroke gold in the Rio Olympics. (AFP, Fabrice Coffrini)
Roar Guru
5th April, 2016
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Few have crafted a sporting ascendancy as stealthily as Brisbane backstroker Emily Seebohm, though the current world number one will be keen to show she is ready to convert at this week’s Australian Olympic trials in Adelaide.

At 23, and without Olympic individual gold to her name, Seebohm must be aware time is running out.

Rio will be her third Olympics, and her consistent world-leading performances since London have her equal favourite to win both the 100 and 200 metres backstrokes.

Her main challenges in her favoured 100-metre event in Rio will be from late-blooming countrywoman Maddison Wilson, and American Missy Franklin.

In addition, the 200 metres will feature a wildcard presence in the ‘Iron Lady’, medley queen Katinka Hosszu. The Hungarian recently became swimming’s first million dollar prize money winner, after a hectic two years entering virtually every race on FINA’s lucrative World Cup series program.

But Hosszu has a far quieter program at the Olympics, with ‘only’ four individual events, and her 200 backstroke should benefit accordingly (she is almost unbackable in the 200 and 400 metre medley, so dominant has she been since London).

Seebohm’s American nemesis, Franklin, seems to have been busy outside the pool since her London gold medals, but has shown glimpses of her best in a recent Olympic build up. The American Olympic trials aren’t til June.

In the meantime, Seebohm also has to hold off rising local teenagers Minna Atherton (15) and Kaylee McKeown (14), who are within a few seconds of her 200 best, and riding the wild curve of teenage improvement.

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Whatever her trials and Olympic outcomes, Seebohm will leave a legacy of sportsmanship and sound career-management.

The women’s 100 metres backstroke final takes place on Saturday, April 9, the 200 on Wednesday, April 13.

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