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
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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
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=== 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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She made it every-time since 2005, that’s 14 long years! Awesome swimmer your are! No doubt!!
Come on Swimming World Mag – that photo is old, Emily handled the obvious disappointment like the champ she is.
Soz Emily but…Well done Kaylee. Brilliant Sharon McKeown? Go KMac!!
A house hold name.
A champion like this should be allowed to go
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.
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 ?
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.
Maybe less time riding horses and more time in the pool??
You are a superstar x
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….
Totally agree – icon of women’s backstroke, and still not too old to make the Olympics! Keep going Emily.
You are a beautiful champion well done Emily for a solid career, keep smiling?
She’s a true champion and will be back for Olympics in Tokyo.
Oh well, she has done her country and herself proud! Always new talent coming along! Wish you well Em!x?❤️?
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.
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.
You will always be our champion ???
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!
Your amazing Emily Seebhom xx