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Commonwealth Games Preview: James Magnussen

Australia's James Magnussen looks at the scoreboard after winning the men's 100m Freestyle final. AP Photo/Michael Sohn
Expert
24th July, 2014
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He may argue, but for swimmer James Magnussen, the Glasgow Commonwealth Games are not merely another step towards the ultimate goal in Brazil in 2016, but the next destination on the path to redemption.

This time two years ago, to most Australians, Magnussen was the man. He was the tall, athletic, super fast swimmer who was going to be successfully panning for gold in the London Olympic pool.

He was confident, outspoken, perhaps a little cocky, but that was seen a positive. Sure, he talked it up, but he’d backed up all those words in the water. And, from a cheering perspective, he was our swimming replacement for the retired Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett.

» FULL GOLD COAST COMMONWEALTH GAMES SCHEDULE

But when it all fell apart so terribly in London, he was suddenly looked upon as a cocky young man with a big mouth who should have been more reserved, had more respect for his rivals. In the eyes of many he almost deserved to come a cropper.

Personally, I didn’t think that way. I thought the chest pumping made great copy in the lead-up, but in hindsight, Magnussen knows he should have done it differently.

After the disappointment of London came the drama of news about the Stilnox intitations in the pre-Olympic camp. In the space of a few months Magnussen had gone from sport’s rapidly rising star to being awfully on the nose.

But that was then, and lessons have been learned. Much has happened in those two years in and out of the water, and much has changed for Maggie. He’s even talking himself down heading into Glasgow, claiming he is an underdog for his main event, the 100m freestyle.

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Last year in Barcelona he was a winner again, defending the world title he won in Shanghai in 2011.

His description of the feeling of winning: “Relieved.” He said the previous year had “really kicked me down to the kerb,” and he had worked “so hard” to climb back to the top.

So, he’s world champion again; surely he will win at the Commonwealth Games? Well, he didn’t even win at his own national titles, pipped by chalk – or was it cheese?

Cameron McEvoy is either the chalk or the cheese to Magnussen. He’s 13 centimetres shorter, 24 kgs lighter, is a massive reader who is passionate about science. Not Maggie’s cup of tea.

“We’re chalk and cheese so it feels like it’s almost hard to butt heads with him because we’re such different guys,” said Magnussen recently. “We get along really well. I don’t feel any rivalry but when we hit the water it’s game time.”

McEvoy has been on the swimming radar for some time. The 20-year-old was a relay swimmer in London and was fourth to Magnussen in Barcelona. But in April he stunned everyone when he beat the favourite to win the national title, hence Magnussen’s claim for underdog status.

At stake in Glasgow in the 100m freestyle is not only the Commonwealth title, but most likely the number one ranking in the world, and early favouritism for next year’s world titles, and even the Rio Olympics.

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But, for Magnussen, there is more. This is his latest chance on a large stage, to show the people of Australia he actually is a good guy. He’s one I certainly believe is worthy of our support, both here and in Rio in 2016.

What am I competing in?
50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, 4 x 100m Freestyle relay, 4 x 100m Medley relay.

Who’s my competition?
The enemy within in the blue riband event the 100m freestyle, with teammate Cameron McEvoy the man Maggie has to beat. In the 50m freestyle, the withdrawal of fellow Australian Eamon Sullivan has left Magnussen the favourite for the splash and dash, but in this event, one false move can be the end of your medal chances.

Hardest to beat will be his teammates, McEvoy again, and Sullivan’s replacement Matt Abood, while Englishman Ben Proud and evergreen South African Roland Schoeman are the main international obstacles. In both relays, Australia are expected to be way too strong.

Form heading into the Games
Magnussen is ranked number one in the Commonwealth in both the 50m and 100m freestyle heading into Glasgow. He swam the season’s best 47.59s in the Perth Aquatic Series in January, before going slower in the selection trials in April when swimming 47.92s behind McEvoy’s 47.65s. In the 50m at the trials in Brisbane, he finished tied for third in the final with Abood in a time of 22.02s, before coming out in the swim off an hour later and posting 21.77s, a time which would have won the final.

More recently Magnussen has been fine tuning. He was very relaxed at the two Grand Prix events in Canberra and Brisbane in May and June, then swam more recently at the French Open in Vichy, winning the 100m in 48.55s and finishing second to local Florent Manaudou in the 50m in 22.07s.

Commonwealth Games History
Back in 2010, an 18-year-old Magnussen broke onto his first senior Australian team, and qualified for a relay berth at the Delhi Commonwealth Games with a third at the selection trials behind Eamon Sullivan. In India, Magnussen anchored the relay team to Games gold.

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Why should Aussies get behind me?
Because as a nation, we have shown we can forgive and forget. Magnussen left a bit of a sour taste in the mouths of many Australians after London with his cockiness and enlarged ego. The problem is when you don’t deliver it comes back to bite you.

James was bitten badly with apparently even some of his own teammates were not too disappointed he lost. But Maggie admitted his made a major mistake, and it has been a very different James Magnussen since London. While it would be easy to get behind his rival Cameron McEvoy, the clean, cut, nerdy science kid who every mother would love to see their daughter bring home, Magnussen deserves our support just as much. This can be a dry run for the way we can support him in Rio in two years’ time.

Fast Facts
Born: 11th April 1991 in Port Macquarie
Height: 195cms. Weight: 94kg
Nickname: The Missile. Was also known as The Anchorman after filling that relay role earlier in his Australian career.
Coach: Brant Best.
Events: 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 4 x 100m freestyle relay, 4 x 100m medley relay.
Notable career achievements: Leading off the 4 x 100m relay in Shanghai at the 2011 World Championships Magnussen clocked 47.49s, the fastest time ever swum in a textile only suit. Australia won that relay and four days Magnussen became the first Australian male to win the 100m freestyle world title. He defended that title in Barcelona in 2013. In between he won silver in the 100m freestyle in 2012 in London,
Favourite Movie: Happy Gilmore
Favourite TV Show: Inbetweeners
Favourite Sporting team: Canterbury Bulldogs. He played rugby league in Port Macquarie growing up, and after his troubles in London in 2012, Canterbury coach Des Hasler put Magnussen in touch with a mind coach.
Favourite Food: Maltesers

Endorsements: Last year Magnussen signed a rich sponsorship contract with swimwear brand Arena, a deal believed to be one of most lucrative in world swimming.

Social following: Has 18,000 followers on Instagram (james_maggie), 5,500 on Twitter (@james_maggie91), and has over 64,500 likes on Facebook (jamesmissilemagnussen).

Youtube: Plenty have seen James Magnussen on Youtube. While just 12,000 have watched this year’s titles when McEvoy beat him, more than 152,000 have watched his 2012 Olympic trial win when he swam 47.10s.

More than 660,000 have watched the 100m Olympic final from London when he lost by 0.01s to American Nathan Adrian, 800,000 have watched he and his freestyle relay team swim the final in London when they were favourites but missed a medal, and more than 1.9 million have watched him lift the 4 x 100m medley team into a bronze medal in London. The race was also the last swim for Michael Phelps – before he announced a comeback.

Percentage chance for gold: It should be 50% with McEvoy also having the 50%, but experience could be massive for Magnussen. I’d rate him about 70%, maybe even a touch higher.

Quote
“I’ve learnt a lot in the way I carry myself around pool deck and around racing. One thing I have learnt is a lot more respect for my competitors.”

This article was first published on the Tenplay website here.

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