James Magnussen posts confidence-boosting time at grand prix meet
JAMES Magnussen is back. After missing an individual spot for Rio, the former dual world champion showed he can still match it with the best in the world.
Olympics
Don't miss out on the headlines from Olympics. Followed categories will be added to My News.
JAMES Magnussen is back.
With the Rio Olympics just 34 days away the former dual world champion has finally found the mental and physical strength after shoulder surgery to have confidence in his own swimming.
It took a surprise 48.49 seconds 100m freestyle at a grand prix meet in Brisbane where he eyeballed current world No.1 Cameron McEvoy (48.43s) the entire race before getting out-touched for Magnussen to feel like the champion of old.
If the Olympic trials were held today, Magnussen would be ready to go sub 48 seconds again. He thinks he can do that in Rio.
The 25-year-old’s fastest time in more than a year and since shoulder surgery has now given him the belief that he can not only contribute to the 4x100m freestyle relay team in Rio but lead them off if the coaches hand him the role.
Indeed, without an individual swim in Rio, Magnussen would love the chance to go head-to-head with his rivals to show them he is still a force on the world stage.
“That felt so good, being back in the dogfight for first and not sixth,” Magnussen said.
“I think I need a 47s to contribute to this relay team and I think I’m on the way.
“After tonight (Friday) I would be happy to (lead off).
“If you had of asked me a week ago I would’ve said no thank you but now I’m definitely growing in confidence and I think I will be back to a mental state where I can lead the team off and I’d like to go head to head with some of those guys that I raced in 2012.”
On a night when several Dolphins members didn’t race due to illness, headed by world champ Emily Seebohm and Mack Horton, Magnussen’s delight at pushing McEvoy was a breakthrough.
He admitted training for Rio without training partners after the disappointment of missing an individual swim had been challenging.
“It’s been a rollercoaster. I’ve had some really good days and really bad days,” he said.
“I’m just trying to thrive on that grind and use my body and fact it’s getting better as motivation.
“It was pretty demoralising knowing what you can do and feeling those physical limitations and for my body to start catching up to my mind is just so encouraging and gives me so much motivation this close to the Olympics.”
Cate Campbell showed her Olympic campaign was firmly on track winning the 50m freestyle in 24.04s, ahead of younger sister Bronte in 24.47s.
Bronte Campbell, the 50-100m world champ, said her shoulder issue was not completely resolved but was “manageable” between now and Rio.
“It’s not out of control, it’s not ideal and it’s not what I wanted for the prep but it’s not a catastrophe,” Bronte said.
“It’s been well-managed and I don’t think it’s something that is going to have a huge impact come Olympic time.”
World champion Mitch Larkin showed sharp form to win the 100m backstroke in 53.22s while other winners included Gold Coast’s David Morgan (200m butterfly 1:59.31), Thomas Fraser-Holmes (400m medley 4:15.84), David McKeon (400m freestyle 3:48.52), Alicia Coutts (200m medley 2:11.18) and Emma McKeon (100m butterfly 57.82s).
Originally published as James Magnussen posts confidence-boosting time at grand prix meet
The silent victim of Australia’s Olympic marathon farce
Isobel Batt-Doyle was the silent victim of the Olympic marathon selection drama. She was one of six women who ran under the Olympic qualifying standard but wasn’t picked for Paris. The South Australian stayed silent about the ordeal, until now.
Shattered comeback star opens up on Paris Olympics coke bust
Banned Kookaburra Tom Craig is set for a return to the national team and has spoken out for the first time since his Paris Olympics drug bust, revealing that he feared his career was over.