Hosszu hype will help my defence: Seebohm

Emily Seebohm says the hype over local hope Katinka Hosszu at Budapest's world swim titles may help inspire the Australian to defend her two backstroke crowns.

Emily Seebohm

Emily Seebohm believes the hype around hometown hero Katinka Hosszu will play into her hands. (AAP)

The overwhelming presence of poster girl Katinka Hosszu ensures there will be no let-up for Australia's Emily Seebohm at this week's world swimming titles in Budapest after yet another Olympic disappointment.

But Seebohm believes the hype around Hungary's "Iron Lady" may yet help the Australian defend her two world crowns at Duna Arena.

Seebohm, 25, did not have to be reminded of her main threat before launching her 100m backstroke title defence on Monday.

Triple Olympic champion Hosszu's image seems to be everywhere in Budapest ahead of her home titles, catching the likes of Seebohm's teammate and Rio gold medallist Mack Horton off guard.

"She's on every single billboard everywhere - I think she means a lot to the country," Horton laughed.

But Seebohm said she knew exactly what was coming, with rabid fans expected to create a more daunting environment than Rio when Hosszu takes the blocks for the 100m backstroke heats.

That should sound alarm bells for Seebohm who struggled at the 2016 Olympics, cutting a tearful figure at her third Games after finishing second last in the 100m backstroke final as Hosszu cruised to gold.

However, Seebohm believed the Hosszu hype would work in her favour ahead of her sixth world titles campaign.

Asked what she expected when Hosszu arrives at the starting blocks, Seebohm said: "I think it is going to be as loud as it can get.

"But I look forward to hearing that and using it to my advantage as well.

"I want to get out there and see what I can do after everything that happened last year."

Hosszu - who has six individual events at Budapest plus relays - will also be out to sabotage Seebohm's 200m backstroke defence.

Seebohm became the fifth woman to claim the 100m-200m backstroke world title double in 42 years at Russia in 2015.

There is extra pressure on Seebohm to step up in an Australian team without champions Kyle Chalmers, Cate Campbell and James Magnussen.

But Seebohm said she was ready to stare Hosszu down on her home turf after overcoming the health dramas that sabotaged her Rio campaign.

She revealed post-Rio that she had been diagnosed before the Games with endometriosis but opted to battle on regardless.

Seebohm finally underwent surgery in December for the painful condition.

"Last year I really struggled. I tried to push that aside and really fight for what I wanted, it didn't help me in the end," Seebohm said.

"I had a lot of work done at the end of the year and got back in the water in January and haven't looked back since.

"I love competing, I always have.

"That's what keeps driving me to come back to these big meets and see where I am at."


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Source: AAP



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