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Seebohm blitzes 100m backstroke in Beijing

Emily Seebohm has added to her collection of gold medals with a tearaway victory in the 100m backstroke at the World Cup meet at Beijing.

Emily Seebohm.
Emily Seebohm has had a tearaway victory in the 100m backstroke at the World Cup meet at Beijing. (AAP)

Pool superstar Emily Seebohm has continued her stunning form, taking her World Cup season record to seven gold and five silver medals on the second day of competition in Beijing.

The 23-year-old Queenslander clocked the second fastest time of the year to score a tearaway victory in the 100m backstroke in 58.59 seconds, winning from Hungary's Katina Hosszu (1:00.26) with China's Chen Jie third and Olympic champion Missy Franklin fourth.

The only time swum faster this year was her own 58.26, when Seebohm won the world title August in Kazan, Russia, where she also won the 200m backstroke world titles.

The Seebohm train has not stopped since, winning two gold and a silver in the opening World Cup round in Moscow, one gold and two silver in Paris, two gold and a silver in Hong Kong and two gold and a silver in Beijing.

Seebohm is hoping to swim even faster to continue the gold rush.

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"I did not expect I could swim that fast," Seebohm said.

"I am happy that it is just the beginning of the season. I would love to get faster and faster in the next stops of the World Cup and get ready for Rio Olympic Games."

Australian swimmers took their medal tally for the Beijing meet to 22 - adding three gold, four silver and five bronze to their day one haul of four gold, four silver and two bronze.

Cate and Bronte Campbell again scored a one-two finish for Australia in the women's 100m freestyle.

Cate won in 52.96, 0.02 seconds faster than Bronte (52.98), with Franklin third in 54.39.

It was the reverse of the positions the sisters placed at the world championships where Bronte claimed gold.

"Bronte just pushed me all the way in a very tight race," Cate Campbell said.

Dan Smith took his World Cup gold medal tally to five from four World Cup rounds after sealing his second 200-400m freestyle double.


2 min read

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Source: AAP



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