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Emily Seebohm misses Cairns swim team training camp after split from Mitch Larkin

EMILY Seebohm has refuted claims she missed the start of the swim team training camp in Cairns because of her split from fellow swimmer Mitch Larkin.

Swimmer Seebohm on ‘last legs’ of her career

EMILY Seebohm has refuted claims she missed the start of the swim team training camp in Cairns because of her split from fellow swimmer Mitch Larkin.

The 26-year-old swimmer wrote to Instagram last night that the decision was due to the ongoing medical condition of her horse, Platinum, a situation which almost saw her miss the recent Pan Pacific Championship Trials in Adelaide.

The swim team flew to Cairns on Sunday for the start of the team staging camp, but Seebohm remained behind in Brisbane.

The backstroke champion said that she had made the decision 2 weeks ago to stay behind.

“2 weeks ago I made the decision that it was in my best interest to stay in Brisbane and join the Australian Swim Team later into the staging camp,” she wrote late last night.

“This decision was due to my horse Platinum needing extensive medical care and needing extra attention at this point in time. This situation also gives me the chance to stay in Brisbane with my coach David Lush and continue my training preparation.”

When the Courier-Mail spoke to a representative of the Australian Swim Team on Saturday, following Seebohm’s announcement on Friday that she and Larkin had split, they were under the impression Seebohm would be joining the team on Sunday.

SEEBOHM’S TRAINING CAMP MISS ‘NOT IDEAL’

OVERNIGHT: Swimming Australia head coach Jacco Verhaeren says Emily Seebohm’s absence from the team training camp in Cairns following her shock split from fellow backstroker Mitch Larkin is not ideal but won’t have a significant effect on her performance.

Emily Seebohm. Picture: Peter Wallis
Emily Seebohm. Picture: Peter Wallis

Verhaeren said there was an expectation the pair would continue to be professional.

Seebohm is expected to join the group next week after choosing not to travel from Brisbane with her peers.

“It is of course always unfortunate if somebody has to miss out on the opportunity to be here and be with her teammates and train together,” he said.

“It is difficult but of course she can train at home as well.”

The camp marks the start of a month-long trip for the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Tokyo from August 9 to 13.

Seebohm, 26, announced on social media last week that she and Larkin, 25, had separated in light of “current events”.

“I would like to take this opportunity before more speculation and rumours are spread. Due to current events that have occurred, Mitch Larkin and I have decided to end our relationship and go our separate ways,” she wrote.

Mitch Larkin arrives in Cairns. Picture: Brian Cassey
Mitch Larkin arrives in Cairns. Picture: Brian Cassey

Verhaeren said Larkin’s current mindset was “pretty good”.

“Of course, it is never nice to be in this situation but it is part of life,” he said.

He said the expectation on the pair was that they continue to be professional and he believed the breakup would not affect the team.

“They’re both mature people,” he said. “It’s very unfortunate, very sad but at same time life moves on.

“They’re very young and I’m sure they will too.”

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/confidential/emily-seebohm-misses-cairns-swim-team-training-camp-after-split-from-mitch-larkin/news-story/aacae2440d11414072838f8fb640c9b6