Seebohm and Larkin – the ‘king and queen’ of backstroke – fail in quest for Olympic medals
Australia’s backstroke ”king and queen” have failed to win medals in the 100m finals in Rio.
Mitch Larkin and Emily Seebohm, a couple away from the pool, finished fourth and seventh respectively in the events many tipped them to win gold in.
Seebohm, who headed into the Olympics as a gold medal favourite, faded badly after leading at the turn. She finished seventh, one spot ahead of fellow Australian Madelin Wilson.
Hungarian Katinka Hosszu claimed gold, narrowly beating American Kathleen Baker. There was a dead heat for third with Fu Yuanhui (China) and Kylie Masse (Canada) each being given a bronze medal.
”That’s just how it is, I know that I tried 100 percent tonight. I couldn’t have done any more, I’m proud of myself,” Seebohm said after the race.
”I guessed I’m a little bit disappointed to see that I have gone 14 58s (seconds) in the last year. It sucks a bit but that’s just how it is.”
Larkin led after 50m but was passed during the second lap by gold medal winning American Ryan Murphy, China’s Xu Jiayu (silver) and David Plummer (USA, third).
”It was a quick race, I knew it would come down to a close finish,” Larkin said after his race.
”I’m stoked for Ryany (Murphy), he swum really quick and he deserves it. It is a little disappointing, but I have got the 200 (backstroke) later in the week, we will just see what happens.”
Larkin conceded the pressure of being the world champion may have taken a toll on his preparation.
”It is tough, as world champion everyone expects you to continue that each year. But the 100 comes to nothing. It is a bit of luck and bit of hard training that goes into it.
The action in the pool started with the semi-finals of the women’s 200m freestyle. Australian duo Emma McKeon and Bronte Barratt have qualified for the final, a race expected to be a duel between American Katie Ledecky and Swede Sarah Sjostrom.
Sjostrom was fastest qualifier and may just be able to get Ledecky’s measure in tomorrow’s final.
After having a Rio night to forget on Monday, McKeon has done extremely well to put that behind her and reach another final. Let’s not forget her gold medal effort as part of the women’s 4x100m frestyle relay on the opening day in the pool.
The first final of the night featured a crack field in the men’s 200m freestyle.
The gold medal wasbeen won by China’s Sun Yang. Yes, that Sun Yang.
His time of 1:44.65 was enough to hold off a great field. South African Chad Le Clos led after 100m but was moved down by the controversial Chinese star.
Yang, who has been embroiled in a war of words with Australia’s Mack Horton before and after the men’s 400m freestyle final, finally has something to smile about.
Le Clos finished second, with American Conor Dwyer claiming bronze.
In scenes reminiscent of the Mack Horton v Sun Yang dispute, American Lilly King beat Russian Yuliya Efimova to win gold in the women’s 100m breaststroke final.
King, who blasted Efimova over her displays of bravado in the lead up to the final despite the Russian having been banned for doping, backed up her words with actions.
“You’re (Efimova) shaking your finger No. 1, and you’ve been caught for drug cheating. I’m just not a fan,” King told US broadcaster NBC in the lead up to the final.
Efimova has to settle for silver, with American Kate Mieli winning bronze.
Michael Phelps’ pursuit of a 20th Olympic gold medal remains alive, with the American superstar the second-fastest qualifier for tomorrow’s men’s 200m butterfly final.
Australian Grant Irvine failed to reach the final after finishing fifth in his semi-final. He was the ninth-fastest swimmer over the two semi-finals.
In the final event of the night, Australian Alicia Coutts qualified for the final of the women’s 200m individual medley.
Coutts’ time of 2:10.35 will see her start the final from lane seven.
