Olympic disappointment in Rio almost caused Emily Seebohm to quit swimming but former backstroke champion Giaan Rooney wouldn't be surprised if Seebohm is still representing Australia as a 40-year-old.
Seebohm's 2016 OIympic dream fell apart in Brazil due to endometriosis, with the backstroke star struggling to a seventh-place finish in the 100m before bowing out in the semi-finals of the 200m.
Her boyfriend, fellow swimmer Mitch Larkin, confirmed the disappointment left Seebohm contemplating retirement before she returned to the pool in style with a successful defence of her 200m world championship crown in Hungary last year.
As next month's trials for April's Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast loom, 1998 Commonwealth Games 100m backstroke champion Rooney is backing Seebohm to avenge her Olympic disappointment in Tokyo in 2020.
"Em is so extraordinary that it would not surprise me if she was 40 and still making the Australian swim team," Rooney told AAP.
"You can see it in her that she still loves the sport ... there is no limitations on Em. Bring on this Commonwealth Games, bring on Tokyo and it wouldn't surprise me if she then went round again."
Rooney believes Seebohm, now 25, has acquired the maturity to handle adversity such as her Rio campaign.
"Em was incredibly unlucky with the endometriosis health issues that she had at Rio because I believe that was her time, she was swimming so well," she said.
"The fact she's now hopefully got that under control as well, I think Tokyo could be a real shake for her and she, more than anyone else, deserves it."
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