Australia’s swimming stars have been urged to “stay out of” reading news and social media after world champion Emily Seebohm hit out at coverage about her 2018 Commonwealth Games performances.

Seebohm – who said at the 2012 Olympics that her social media fixation robbed her of perspective and focus before a 100m backstroke final in which she won a silver medal – thinks the media have “downgraded” her achievements on the Gold Coast.

Speaking after winning a silver medal in a thrilling 100m backstroke final on Saturday, Seebohm said she felt her achievement was “diminished” by the press.

Swimming Australia head coach Jacco Verhaeren had some strong advice for his team on Monday, telling them he did not believe coverage should impact their performances and that if any form of media was giving them grief, to shut themselves out.

“I don’t think that whatever you guys [media] broadcast or write down should affect any performance,” he said.

Referring to Seebohm, he said: “If you can’t handle that, stop reading newspapers.

“We talk to the team and the athletes quite a bit on how to prepare for meets and this is the same as being on social media or general media.”

Verhaeren added: “If you can’t deal with it, stay out of it.”

The photo

If it’s good enough for Usain …

Usain Bolt’s love for chicken nuggets is well known.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he won three gold medals, he claimed to eat around 100 McDonald’s nuggets a day and said that he also indulged in french fries and apple pies because he did not like the “odd” local food.

The New Daily understands that McDonald’s outlets on the Gold Coast have proved very popular with Australian athletes over the past week – including several gold medal winners.

And when a curious Uber driver quizzed them about the nutritional benefits of eating McDonald’s after picking them up from the fast food chain, he was quickly told about Bolt’s love of the golden arches.

They did not need it but as far as methods of justification go, it is a pretty good one.

What a mentor!

Australian boxer Caitlin Parker will win at least a bronze medal in the women’s 75kg division at the Games.

She upset Games favourite Natasha Gale on Monday and spoke afterwards about how a text message from cricket legend Adam Gilchrist had given her motivation.

So, what is the connection?

“[He was] my mentor for the Sports Australia Hall of Fame scholarship program in 2015,” she said.

“We’d meet up a couple of times and see how I was going, giving me advice that I’ve needed.

“He’d always give me a call or message before my fights. He’s been really good for me.”

Good on you, Gilly.

The tweet

Scotland’s Mark Dry is my new hero. #gc2018 pic.twitter.com/F0qpqjhgJk

— Mark O'Sullivan (@osullysport) April 8, 2018

Transgender athlete’s dramatic withdrawal

She seemed set for a gold medal on Monday but after a brilliant start to the over-90kg weightlifting, New Zealand’s Laurel Hubbard saw her Games dream go up in smoke.

Hubbard suffered a painful injury – the latest in a long line of weightlifting problems – attempting to lift a 132kg bar when her elbow gave way.

“That to me looked like the elbow came out and went back in,” a Seven Network expert said.

Ouch ….

Tuesday’s action

It promises to be an exciting night in the pool as the final day of competition is highlighted by the men’s freestyle events over 50m (7.45pm) and 1500m (9.03pm).

Local favourites Mack Horton and Jack McLoughlin are tipped to battle it out in the long-distance event.

Finishing proceedings at the swimming are the 4x100m medley relay finals for women (9.43pm) and men (9.52pm).

Inspirational Aussie hero Kurt Fearnley competes in his last track event at the Games in the men’s T54 1500m final (8.27pm) and the men’s 400m final (9.48pm) and women’s 1500m decider (10.04pm) will also prove exciting at Carrara.

Our men’s hockey team takes on Canada (4.30pm) and the women battle Scotland (9.30pm), while there are more medal events in the road cycling, para powerlifting and swimming on another busy day of competition.