Rio 2016: Aussie swim couple Mitch Larkin and Emily Seebohm eyeing gold
AUSTRALIAN world champions and swimming super couple Mitch Larkin and Emily Seebohm have willingly embraced underdog status.
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AUSTRALIAN world champions Mitch Larkin and Emily Seebohm have willingly embraced underdog status as the Dolphins attempt to get their Olympic swim campaign back onto the golden trail today.
After two gold medals on the opening day of racing Australia face a bitter dogfight today to get back to the top of the medal podium after the USA flexed their considerable might to muscle in on Dolphins’ turf.
Swimming’s golden couple Larkin and Seebohm, who shared five gold medals between them at last year’s world titles, had come into these Games as two of our most bankable stars but suddenly find themselves fighting for a spot on the podium in the Olympic arena.
Larkin has a towering twin US threat to combat in his 100m backstroke final today after he qualified third fastest for the final in 52.70s, behind Ryan Murphy (52.49s) and David Plummer (52.50s).
Seebohm (59.32s) too was outdone by an American in the semi-finals as Kathleen Baker (58.84s) set the pace in the 100m backstroke to be fastest qualifier leaving the Aussie world champ struggling back in seventh place.
Larkin admitted he’s deliberately talked down his chances in the 100m event, wanting to put all the heat on the Americans who are bigger, faster and stronger.
The Brisbane backstroker is banking on being fitter and sharper with his skills to get the win today.
“I’m not the biggest guy around. Obviously Plummer is quite a bit bigger and stronger than me so his power is a lot higher as well,” Larkin said.
“But I think coming from a longer based program the 200m naturally suits me better and my body shape as well but saying that I’d like to swim both pretty fast.
“I think give it another day my speed is coming along.
“I know it’s going to be a close race tomorrow. The Americans probably have more speed than I do so if I can get close to them in the first 50m it’s on in the second 50m.
“The final will come down to who holds their nerve, keeps a clear head and can execute their skills really well.”
After failing to handle the pressure of racing from lane four in London in 2012, Seebohm now has virtual finals anonymity out in lane one after she just scraped into the final in seventh position.
Fellow Aussie Madison Wilson looked impressive qualifying fourth fastest in 59.03s, but Seebohm is still a live hope and could make it third time lucky at her third Olympics.
“In the semi I was more nervous than I should have been and not hitting my skills as well as I could. I know my dive was a bit sloppy and I definitely know my turn was too,” Seebohm said.
“I would’ve loved to have gone faster but I couldn’t help that and I will just go in tomorrow night and it’s a race basically.
“I don’t think it matters where you are, I think for me it’s just about racing and making sure I’m working on the skills that were a bit sloppy tonight.”
Originally published as Rio 2016: Aussie swim couple Mitch Larkin and Emily Seebohm eyeing gold
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