New Year, new start.
Australia’s two-time Olympic swimming gold medallist Emily Seebohm saw in 2021 by revealing she has been dealing with an eating disorder for over two years.
The former 100m and 200m backstroke world champion has endured a difficult few years, undergoing surgery for endometriosis in 2017 before a well-publicised break-up with team-mate Mitch Larkin the following year.
Seebohm then failed to qualify for the 2019 Gwangju World Championships, prompting her to leave her training base in Brisbane to work under Michael Bohl at Griffith University on the Gold Coast.
The 28-year-old swam for Energy Standard in the 2020 International Swim League in Budapest, but missed last month’s Queensland State Championships.
In an Instagram post, Seebohm showed off a butterfly tattoo on her wrist in recognition of the Butterfly Foundation which helps people with eating disorders, and hopes her admission “can help someone who could be feeling the same”.
She wrote, “For over 2 years I’ve been dealing with an Eating disorder. I’ve binged, purged and taken laxatives. I’ve counted calories, skipped meals and constantly weighted (sic) myself. I’ve been embarrassed to be in my togs.
“I have judged my body every time I have been in front of a mirror. I’ve been told that the only way I can swim faster is by losing weight and I have believed it.
“This year I’m going to be braver for myself. To give my body the love it deserves and to start I needed to be honest to everyone including myself.” – Emily Seebohm on Instagram
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