Tokyo Olympics swimming trials: Emily Seebohm’s bodyshaming hell surfaces as she books Tokyo ticket
Veteran backstroker Emily Seebohm has spoken of her utter despair and misery when recounting her bodyshaming hell after booking her ticket for a fourth Olympics.
Swimming
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Emily Seebohm was reduced to tears as she recounted how she was bodyshamed into believing she was no longer a world class swimmer.
In a powerful statement that should send a message to everyone involved in women’s sport, Seebohm revealed just how destructive the comments she heard were on her mind.
But the 29-year-old — already a legend in Australian swimming — said she overcame them by switching coaches and the proof is there to see.
On Sunday night, she joined Leisel Jones as only the second Australian swimmer to be selected for four Olympics by finishing second in the 100m backstroke.
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“In 2019, I lost a lot of confidence in my swimming and I knew this is going to be super tough to make this team but I really wanted to go to a fourth Olympics,” she said.
“That was my dream when I started and. It‘s just it’s really nice to be back here because after 2019 I didn’t think that I would.
“I wanted to get back close to my best and I‘m just really happy that I got this opportunity to get to my fourth Olympics and compete against the best in the world again because that’s why we do it, that’s why we work so hard.”
Seebohm already has five medals and could find herself on the podium again in Japan.
As well as the 100m backstroke, she also has a chance to make the 200m backstroke and should also pick up a swim in the medley relay but said she was just glad to prove her doubters wrong.
“I definitely made a lot of changes after 2019,” she said.
“A lot of people said that I wasn‘t going to do it. I was too old. I needed to lose weight, I needed to look different.”
““I guess I just stuck to my guns and stuck to what I knew would work best. Moving to (coach Michael) Bohl was the greatest thing I ever did for my career.
“He‘s given me so much confidence. to be able to stand up here because, two years ago, I didn’t feel comfortable in my togs.
“And to be here and to feel comfortable again and happy again is just such a blessing.“
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