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Aussie swim star breaks silence on 'rollercoaster' public break-up

Aussie swim star Mitch Larkin has broken his silence over the messy break-up with Emily Seebohm that made its way into very public light.

The split became a highly-talked about subject in June following Larkin’s decision to end the relationship – and again in August after Seebohm’s sly dig at Larkin following the Pan Pacs in Tokyo.

But the 25-year-old has spoken for the first time since the break-up, and is adamant he “absolutely did not cheat on her” following much speculation around the sudden split.

Mitch Larkin has spoken for the first time since his split with Emily Seebohm. Pic: Getty
Mitch Larkin has spoken for the first time since his split with Emily Seebohm. Pic: Getty

“I said ‘this isn’t good, this isn’t what a relationship should be, it’s quite draining’. I came back from a training camp in Thailand and ended it,” Larkin told the Courier Mail.

“Breaking up with her was one of the hardest things I could do, because I adored her.

“That was really tough, ending it, and then to be accused of everything else was a whole other kettle of fish.”

The fallout over Larkin’s relationship break-up with fellow Australian swimming star Emily Seebohm was messy, to say the least.

Seebohm posted a cryptic social media message after the split, which was seen as thinly-veiled swipe at Larkin.

Accusations ran wild as rumours surrounding the sudden split were flooded with people alleging Larkin cheated on Seebhom – but he says that certainly wasn’t the case.

“She was really emotional at the time and whether she had seen the conversation (on the phone) and jumped to conclusions,” he said.

The conversation Larkin referred to is one between himself and training partner Abbey Harkin, who he says was checking on him as a friend post-split.

“I said to her ‘I’ve never cheated on you … how do you think it’s physically possible for me to do it, we live together, you see me all the time. I don’t know where this was coming from.’”

Mitchell Larkin poses on the podium of the 100m backstroke men final of the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships 2018 in Tokyo. Pic: Getty
Mitchell Larkin poses on the podium of the 100m backstroke men final of the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships 2018 in Tokyo. Pic: Getty

“She knew me quite well and could see this whole situation was tearing me apart and it was nice to see that she cared enough to check in.

“(But) there was certainly no physical relationship at all, which has been reported many times.

“My coach is very adamant that there’s no relationships within the squad for a number of reasons, because it just makes things difficult, and the punishment is both people get kicked out.

Larkin also opened up on the toll the very public break-up had on him, including the overwhelming number of allegations that he was a ‘cheat’.

“I’d go to bed positive, thinking I’d got through that day and then something else would come at me, another story saying the same thing…it was an emotional rollercoaster.

“She knew me quite well and could see this whole situation was tearing me apart and it was nice to see that she cared enough to check in.”