Seebohm facing a huge challenge
EMILY Seebohm will have bigger issues on her mind than former partner Mitch Larkin when she heads to Tokyo at the weekend to join the Australian Pan Pacific championship team.
Seebohm will fly out on the weekend to rejoin her teammates after leaving the Dolphins’ camp in Cairns last week to return to Brisbane.
And she faces a massive challenge against American Kathleen Baker, who broke the world record in the 100m backstroke at the US trials just hours after Seebohm returned to Brisbane.
Baker’s effort broke the record of Canadian Kylie Masse, with Seebohm set to face both women in Tokyo next week.
While her preparation has been tumultuous, she was reportedly flying in training in Cairns last week.
In the wake of her breakup with Larkin, Seebohm headed into camp 10 days after her teammates before returning to Brisbane as the Dolphins headed to Japan and staging camp in Nagaoka.
And while she has been training under regular coach David Lush in Brisbane, it has not been all work for Seebohm, who headed out to get her nails done yesterday.
The world champion over 200m, Seebohm welcomed her horse Platinum home on Tuesday following surgery.
It has been the only post on social media this week, following a flurry of activity following the split from Larkin.
Australian Swimming team director Jacco Verhaeren said the relationship breakdown between Seebohm and Larkin would have no effect on the Australian Pan Pacific team.
And he said there had been no specific advice to the swimmers to avoid social media.
“As in any campaign, we try to educate our people in clever and smart use of social media and media altogether,” Verhaeren said.
“It’s a great medium and it has its purpose but it has a big risk as well.”