Susie O’Brien: Don’t blame media for Emily Seebohm’s bronze medal

IT’S not the media’s fault Australian swimmer Emily Seebohm didn’t win gold in the pool on Sunday night. Australians are proud of her achievements — and she should be too, writes Susie O’Brien.

IT’S not the media’s fault Australian swimmer Emily Seebohm didn’t win gold in the pool on Sunday night.

She was beaten in the 200m backstroke final by Canadians Kylie Masse and Taylor Ruck.

Seebohm said she was mentally undermined by discussion in the media about her winning silver and not gold in the 100m the day before.

“After the 100m yesterday I felt happy with it but I felt media-wise it was a bigger deal that I didn’t get gold, that it wasn’t an achievement to win silver,” she said.

“I felt lacking in confidence, like silver wasn’t good enough but I know I did the best race I could.”

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Australia's Emily Seebohm competes during the swimming women's 200m backstroke. Picture: AFP Photo/Francois Xavier Marit

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Seebohm’s current Games haul is five gold, four silver and four bronze. She still has the 50m backstroke and 4x100m medley relay to contest at the Gold Coast.

Australians are entitled to debate swimmers’ performance and to discuss what may have contributed to someone losing one race or another. Seebohm was the favourite, after all.

It’s not up to us to shut up; it’s up to the athletes to shut us out.

Millions of our hard-earned taxpayer dollars help fund the games and allow athletes like Seebohm to lead a charmed life in the pool.

So, it seems disappointing that Seebohm is blaming the media for being beaten in the race.

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Emily Seebohm looks on following the Women's 100m backstroke final. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

She should know she can’t control what others say about her performances; all she can control is how fast she can swim.

This is an international competition where the colour of the medals matter. In swimming a few hundredths of a second matter.

Yes, Seebohm, who was favourite for the 100m and 200m backstroke races, was under a lot of pressure going into the games.

That pressure isn’t all bad; it simply means people care. That pressure helps get bums on seats in stadiums, justifies the multimillion-dollar public funding for elite swimming and attract precious sponsorship dollars.

Seebohm should have the mental toughness to block out all of the external noise during the games and concentrate on doing her very best in the pool.

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Silver medallist Taylor Ruck of Canada, gold medallist Kylie Masse of Canada and bronze medallist Emily Seebohm of Australia pose during the medal ceremony for the Women's 200m Backstroke Final. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Emily Seebohm of Australia is seen celebrating after winning the Bronze medal in the final of the women's 200 metre backstroke. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

Emily Seebohm is hugged by Kayla McKeown after the Women's 200m Backstroke. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

Seebohm, let’s not forget, blamed social media for the fact that she missed out on a 100m backstroke gold medal in 2012.

Back then she admitted she stayed up late on social media,

“I don’t know, I just felt like I didn’t really get off social media and get into my own head,” she said.

She said the pressure on her to “get the gold” meant she psyched herself out of winning the race.

In the old days athletes would be protected from external interference once they were in the athletes’ village. But now they appear to be free to sweat over every tweet and post. Why don’t coaches put athletes under a media blackout like they used to?

Whatever way you look at it, Seebohm is a champion, winning 13 medals at three Commonwealth Games. Australians are proud of her achievements, and she should be too.

Originally published as Susie O’Brien: Don’t blame media for Emily Seebohm’s bronze medal