Seebohm collects more gold

BACKSTROKE queen Emily Seebohm has added another milestone to her glittering career after last night collecting a record 25th Australian short course title at the national championships at the SA Aquatic Leisure Centre.

And Cate Campbell completed another fine day at her comeback major event from a sabbatical by breaking the Australian and Commonwealth record as she won the 50m freestyle in 23.19 seconds, the third fastest time ever recorded.

Seebohm’s gold made her Australia’s greatest short course swimmer in history as she passed fellow backstroker Matt Welsh’s 24 titles.

What made her feat even more remarkable is her versatility. Seebohm, 25, has secured short course titles in nine different events after adding the 400m medley to her list of achievements on Thursday.

Seebohm, a dual Olympic gold medallist and five-time world champion, extended a rich vein of form by winning the 100m backstroke in 56.80 seconds, beating Minna Atherton (57.07) and Kaylee McKeon (57.11).

“I didn’t realise it was so many,” Seebohm said.

Seebohm said the race meet had been crucial in her preparations for the Commonwealth Games, where she will be bestowed the honour of being a baton holder, and hopefully the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Campbell won her final by about half a body length ahead of Shayna Jack and Bronte Campbell, who recorded times of 24.01 and 24.08 seconds respectively.