Fit and healthy again, Emily Seebohm has set her sights on London Olympic gold after putting a horror 2011 behind her.
Seebohm on Saturday continued her strong build-up to next month’s trials on Saturday with a dominant display to top the heats of the of the 100m backstroke at the NSW championships in Sydney.
The 19-year-old clocked 59.96 seconds in her heat swim, the second fastest time in the world this year, to suggest she’s back to her best after a year to forget.
After winning eight medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Seebohm was struck down by swine flu prior to last year’s national titles and also battled two bouts of tonsillitis, bronchitis and pancreatitis before placing fourth at the world titles in Shanghai.
And Seebohm is hoping she’s used up all her bad luck heading into the biggest meet of her career.
“I’m hoping it’s all behind me,” Seebohm said.
“I can’t really say that I won’t be sick again … but I’m hoping that was the last of it and this year will be a bit smoother with sickness.”
Seebohm said she hoped to go “further than I’ve ever thought I could go before” in the backstroke event.
“Hopefully I’ll be up there on the podium getting the gold medal,” she said.
Meanwhile, Libby Trickett continued the most encouraging meet of her comeback so far as she qualified sixth fastest for the 100m butterfly final.
Trickett clocked 1:00.60 behind fastest qualifier Ellen Gandy (59.02), shaving .23 seconds off the previous best time of her comeback at the Victorian state championships last month.
Trickett, who cut a whole second off her best comeback time in the 100m freestyle on Friday, said she was gaining confidence and momentum ahead of next month’s Olympic trials.
“I think (this meet) has given me that little bit more competitiveness, to see I am actually competitive again,” Trickett said.
“I’m really excited about March and I actually have no idea what to expect … but I really believe that it will be fast.”
Leisel Jones (2:30.34) finished fourth in the 200m breaststroke heats after a disappointing seventh in Friday night’s 100m final.
Jones said an ear infection and heavy training schedule was contributing to her performances but was confident she was on track ahead of trials.
“It (the 100 final) is possibly one of the worst swims I’ve ever done in my career in a race but that’s how it goes,” Jones said.
James Magnussen opted not to swim in the men’s 200m freestyle heats, topped by Korean Park Tae Hwan in 1:48.86.
Bronte Barratt (4:13.38) was fastest in the heats of the women’s 400m freestyle final while Geoff Huegill withdrew from the 50m butterfly.
