January 18th, James Magnussen returns to competition with his Australian mates to face-off with South Africa and China at the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series. See a complete roster of athletes, country by country, here.
Magnussen, Australia’s biggest star — or at least the swimmer who captured the most media — has much to prove after his disappointing performance at the 2012 London Olympic Games. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, he has gone to “another level” preparing for the first meet of 2013. His coach, Brant Best, explained further to APP:
“He did a good job going into London but he has found another level. He has been amazing at training.”
James Magnussen, Olympic Silver Medalist
After a lot of pre-London chest thumping, the Magnussen lead 4×100 freestyle relay only netted 4th, and Team USA’s Nathan Adrian snatched the Olympic gold from Magnussen in the 100 freestyle, swimming’s blue ribbon event. Coach Best is correct. Magnussen actually swam well given his tender age, 21, and that it was his first Olympic Games. Aussie journalists, however, were not so understanding.
Magnussen, described by some of his teammates as intense and too hard on himself, did not need a lot of motivation getting back into the season. Coach Best told APP, he was pipped by American Nathan Adrian in London.
“We reviewed the race (the London Olympic 100 freestyle) and looked at what went right and wrong, but a lot of things went right in the process for preparing for London. We don’t want to throw everything away.”
Coach Best is excited about the upcoming Perth competition with it’s super-sized $500,000 purse, something he feels Swimming Australia needs to take the temperature of Aussie Team culture.
Several swimming stars will take to the blocks January 18th, notably Christian Sprenger, Alicia Coutts, Emily Seebohm, China’s Ye Shiwen and South Africa’s Chad le Clos, famous for out-touching Michael Phelps in his signature event, the 200 meters butterfly.
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37 Comments on "James Magnussen Ready to Prove Himself after London Debacle"
I thought I read that Chad LeClos is out due to shoulder injury?
He dropped out of the World Cup Series.
http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sport/2012/10/17/chad-quits-world-cup-over-injury
i thought i read one of his tweets that he had to take a break now…..he tweeted this on jan 5th:
Chad Le Clos@chadleclos
MRI scan wasnt terrible but wasnt good either, looks like ill be out of action, will be working the legs next few weeks!
I am bodly predicting he bounces back from his lackluster performance in London and breaks the WR in the 100 this year!
Philip…I think he dips into the 46s this year. That’s a big swim, but he’s so young. Guys get a lot stronger from 21-25.
Mel,
I agree.
He has a NICE 46 on him.And Magnussen must watch out because there is a lot of youngsters breaking all age group records around the World.Cameron McEvoy is awesome.
For 2015/2016 the 100 Free Field will be LOADED with guys who are Crushing the NAG records everywhere.. staying on top for ANYONE until that will be pretty hard
We may count on Morozov as well for strong contention this year + Adrian , Mc Evoy , and a few others . Magnussen will be back for sure but it will be a lot more exciting this year to see how well he will manage the pressure and the contention candidates in the Big meets .
…I’m with you on this, Jean-Michel.
Thanks Mel !