According to head coach Leigh Nugent, James Magnussen represents the alpha male that the Australian swim team requires, with the ability to uplift team morale akin to Ian Thorpe or Grant Hackett.
At the London Olympic trials held in Adelaide, Magnussen further established himself as a true star of the Dolphins squad by securing the double in the 100m and 50m freestyle, compelling the world to take notice with his impressive times.
The talented 20-year-old recorded an astonishing 47.10 seconds in the 100m, breaking his previous record for the fastest swim in a textile suit, and coming within 0.19 seconds of Cesar Cielo’s world record from 2009, a feat that many speculated might take decades to surpass.
Equally intimidating for his competitors was his performance in the 50m, which he casually referred to as just “a bit of fun,” before finishing with a time of 21.74 in the final—an achievement that would have earned him silver at last year’s world championships.
Magnussen is now bound for London with a genuine opportunity to become the first Australian to clinch four gold medals at the Olympics, as Australia’s men’s team is also a contender in both the freestyle and medley relays.
“He’s the real deal. He’s the full package,” Nugent remarked.
“Every interview he participates in offers something worth listening to, and every swim he performs showcases something worth watching.
“Last year, he struggled to swim a 50, and now he’s just recorded the second fastest time in the world.
“There’s a medal in play that we hadn’t even contemplated.
“He is unique and willing to put himself out there, talking it up a notch, which has been advantageous for our men’s team.”
Finalized on Thursday night, Australia’s squad for London will include a number of significantly improved young male swimmers, with Nugent noting that Magnussen’s influence has been incalculable.
The Australian team hasn’t had a stronger figurehead since Thorpe and Hackett lead the Dolphins at the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Olympics.
“James is a distinct character, but he undoubtedly exerts that influence,” Nugent said.
“He’s an admired figure, well regarded, and I believe others are looking to draw inspiration from his spirit within the team.
“Ian, Grant, and Michael Klim shared that same spirit.”
Although Magnussen’s forthright confidence has won him many admirers, it has also opened him up to some criticism on social media, where people claim he lacks humility.
However, the Port Macquarie swimmer asserts that he is merely having faith in his capabilities.
“I’m certainly not cocky or arrogant regarding my actions,” Magnussen stated ahead of the trials.
“I strive to remain as grounded as possible outside of the pool, but being confident is crucial in an event like the 100m freestyle, so it’s about striking a balance, in my opinion.
“I believe a healthy confidence combined with a good rapport with the media and spectators is beneficial.”
Despite claiming that the Olympic trials in Adelaide exceeded his expectations, Nugent acknowledges the difficulty Australia might face in maintaining its status as the second-ranked nation in swimming at the London Games.
Australia has clinched second place behind the United States in the medal standings at the past three Olympics, securing six gold medals in Beijing 2008, seven in Athens 2004, and five in Sydney 2000.
However, Nugent foresees challenges in retaining that position in London.
“The gap has narrowed significantly with nations that have finished third and below,” Nugent commented.
“The US teams represent the major challenge, as they have dominated swimming for a century, and we’ve been striving for a century to surpass them—we will continue that pursuit.
“However, other formidable competitors like China and France have recently emerged, making it increasingly difficult for us to maintain that number two standing.
“We can only focus on our performance while trusting that the results will reflect our efforts.
“We cannot control the actions of our competitors, but if we execute our plan effectively, we can expect favorable outcomes.”
Nugent has consistently refrained from making medal predictions but pragmatically suggested that Australia could aim for approximately 15 medals overall, similar to their performance in Athens, while hinting that matching the 20 medals from Beijing would be a significant challenge.
by Buford Balony
