Seebhom inspired by fellow Aussie Larkin at World Championships

Ryland James 08:23 09/08/2015
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  • Seebhom puts her back into it.

    Australia’s Emily Seebohm won the women’s 200m backstroke gold to complete the double having already won the 100m title.

    Seebohm clocked a new Oceania record of two minutes, 05.81 seconds with Olympic champion Missy Franklin of the USA taking silver at 0.53secs as Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu earned bronze at 1.03.

    Franklin had led at the halfway stage, but a spurt in the final 50 metres gave Seebohm her third worlds gold in Kazan having helped Australia win the 4x100m freestyle relay last Sunday.

    Seebohm, who won the 100m world crown on Tuesday, matches compatriot Mitchell Larkin, who achieved the men’s 100 and 200m backstroke double.

    “I guess watching Mitch last night was definitely so inspiring,” said the 23-year-old. “He even said to me ‘go out and get that double, I know you can do it’.”

    – WAC: Ledecky dominance continues with fifth gold
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    – WAC: Bronte and Cate Campbell shine in Kazan

    Her hat-trick of golds in Kazan is all the more remarkable as Seebohm split from her coach just after the Australian trials in April and dislocated her knee in a freak horse riding accident in May.

    There was also a double for Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom who claimed the 50m butterfly to add to her 100m crown. Sjostrom clocked 24.96 seconds in the 200m final, to set a new championship record, with Denmark’s Jeanette Ottesen taking silver at 0.38sec back.

    China’s Lu Ying swam a new Asian record of 25.37secs to claim bronze at 0.41.

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