James Magnussen looks unfazed after swimming the quickest lap of his life during the heats of the men's 50m freestyle Picture: Simon Cross Source: News Limited
ANY time James Magnussen swims the quickest lap of his life, it's genuinely quick.
That certainly that was the case in the heats of the 50m freestyle this morning at the Olympic selection trials in Adelaide.
Magnussen announced after his near-world record performance in the 100m freestyle last night that he really only intended his 50m freestyle today as a fun swim.
But certainly his 22.19sec would have taken some of the fun out of the event for the men who are banking on this for an individual swim at the London Games, two-times Australian champion Matt Abood,, Matt Targett and former 100m freestyle world record holder Eamon Sullivan.
Even with every muscle still hurting from the 100m freestyle, Magnussen still managed to swim .3sec faster than he ever has before.
"It's a fair lactic acid hangover," Magnussen admitted. " I swam about 1500m this morning just to try and clear it out and I'll go and get a massage now and hopefully freshen up for that final.
"It's easily the quickest I've ever been. I'm just really happy with my skills at the moment, my dive and underwater. It's improved at lot even since world championships last year so that helps me get out in front and swim speed is not something I really struggle with."
Still, fast as he is, Magnussen does not see himself as a genuine contender in the one-lap splash-and-dash 50m freestyle in London.
"Internationally, not really, no. That's still a fair way off the benchmark. But it does help the first 50m of my 100m last night, so that's just naturally progressing, I think."
Progressing to the point that Magnussen admitted to feeling a little frustrated with his 47.1sec swim in the 100m freestyle, given that it left him stranded a mere .19sec outside Brazilian Cesar Cielo's world record.
"Now that I sit back and look at last night's swim it's a bit of a pain in the bum that I got down that close but didn't get. But I'm pretty confident I'll get it at the Olympics.
"Looking at last night's time, I was .2sec slower to the turn than I was at the world championships in the relay, so that's all I need right there."
Still for the moment, the one-lap event is his focus and on the strength of his swim today he has moved into eighth spot on the Australian all time top 10, with five of the times ahead of him being swum in the tainted era of hi-tech suits.
The semi-final race tonight for the final eight is certain to be intense with the cut-off time just to make the top 16 this morning 23.20sec.
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