Queens Of Consistency: Can Emily Seebohm & Missy Franklin Back Up What’s Been Banked?

After we started our month-long countdown to racing in Rio with a look at some of the most significant swims of Olympic season so far on the clock, we turn our attention to consistency; the rate at which contenders stack up quality efforts in the top 10, top 20 and top 25 performances.

In the series so far:

Men’s sprint freestyle – time-space stretchers Men’s 200-1500m free – a war zone Men’s backstroke – which way will the USA Vs AUS Swingometer sway? Men’s breaststroke – The Challenge Of Adam Peaty’s Punch & Daniel In His Den Men’s butterfly – Are You Not Entertained? You Will Be: By Phelps, Le Clos, Cseh & Co Men’s medley – Last Stand Of Phelps V Lochte; Can Hagino & Seto Replace Them? Women’s sprint freestyle: chasing the Aussie sisters of sizzling speed Women’s 200-800 free: where Katie Ledecky blazes a pioneering path to the pantheon

Today we continue our look at the women’s events with backstroke and the leading contenders among those who have shown they have what it takes to step on to the  ultimate podium.

Racing gets underway in Rio on August 6.

Women’s Backstroke

Missy Franklin by Matthew Bish of Bold Action Media

Backstroke bonanza Down Under: Emily Seebohm, Madison Wilson (right), with Minna Atherton (left) and Belinda Hocking – images by Patrick B. Kraemer and Swimming Australia

Last year in Kazan, Emily Seebohm claimed both the 100 and 200m world titles to match the same result among men for Mitch Larkin and grant Australia a golden sweep of Olympic backstroke distances.

Seebohm had the edge on the rest not only in speed but skills, stamina and finishing might. Madison Wilson joined her for an Aussie 1-2 in the 100m, while Missy Franklin (USA) added silver in the 200m to the Olympic crown of 2012 and the world title of 2013. All three arrive in Rio as strong contenders, while Belinda Hocking (AUS) grants Australia a third podium contender on backstroke in Rio.

The form guide also places Mie Nielsen (DEN), Katinka Hosszu (HUN) in the title hunt, while Maya Dirado (USA), Olivia Smoliga (USA) and Kylie Masse (CAN) are among those on the cusp of progress in the nick of time.

In keeping with the theme of the series, we don’t have to look too far to find the queen of consistency in the 100m: Emily Seebohm has built one of the most powerful event ownerships in the clock all events, all-time as the owner of 28 of the best 50 100m backstroke efforts ever seen (that count in textile). All but three of those efforts are sub-59.

As noted below, Franklin, the queen of all-time ranks in the 200m, will not defend the two-lap crown but will be a force heading into the four-lapper. If Franklin owns 4/4, 6/10 and 20/20 of the best performances ever but has not come close to best since 2013, then Seebohm, at her best in 2015, and Hocking, almost back to best this year, are top of the class among the next in line on the scale of career consistency in the 200m.

100m

Aussie 1-2 Emily Seebohm and Madison Wilson top the 100m backstroke act world titles – by Patrick B. Kraemer

In 2016, Seebohm shares the top time of the season going into Rio with Nielsen, at 58.73, that speed attained at the most signicant moment for both, respectively for the win at the Australian Olympic trials and for the European title. Nielsen has momentum with her and is due a drop to the sub-58.5 zone. Second at London 2016 in 58.94 was Hosszu, the Hungarian with a reputation for swimming fast often but whose consistency of speed on backstroke pales by comparison to her rivals.

While Hosszu’s effort is her sole entry among the top 20 performances this year, Seebohm has four of the best 7 and Nielsen has three of the best 10 and five of the best 20.

Knocking at the door of the sub-59 club this year are Smoliga (USA) and Masse (CAN), while Wilson, who gave Australia the 2 in the 1-2 at world titles last year, has skirted the low 59s three times this year. The only two others in the best 20 are US No 2 going into Rio, Kathleen Baker, and Australian No3 confined to junior waters yet but promising a tall wave for the Dolphins to ride in the years ahead, Minna Atherton, at 19th best effort among eight swimmers.

Denmark’s Mie Nielsen has sharpening her nails for Olympic season and could become the first Danish 100m back winner since Karen-Margret Harup in 1948  – by Patrick B. Kraemer

Her 59.34 lifetime best was delivered at …

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