Having opted out of April’s Australian Swimming Championships, his nation’s qualification meet for this summer’s World Championships, sprinter James Magnussen has made it known that the 2018 Commonwealth Games is his ultimate target. Believing that a 100m freestyle gold will be harder to obtain in the Gold Coast come 2018 than even in Budapest this July, ‘Maggie’ kicks off his comeback campaign with a 5-meet trip through Europe.
Maggie is set to compete at the Mare Nostrum series, which includes stops in Monaco, Canet and Barcelona, and will also head to Rome to take on competitors at the Sette Colli Trophy meet. His final meet overseas will take place in Chartres at the French Open slated to begin July 1st.
“I can’t wait to do some racing,” Magnussen tells The Australian. “I’m not sure how I will go. Sometimes when you don’t race for a while everything clicks into place first time, and sometimes it doesn’t. I want to use the Mare Nostrum series to iron out a few problems.’’
In what kind of shape does Magnussen put himself at this point? “Probably the best I have ever felt was in early 2014 and I’d say I am not far off that, and I am working towards that.
“I have been able to do a lot of uninhibited training, which is awesome,’’ he said. “The biggest problem has been me pushing too hard and exhausting myself, and it’s nice to have that problem rather than being held back by external factors.
“I have been able to do repeat efforts of things, which I hadn’t been able to do since before the surgery and which I need to do for the back-end of my race. The back-end was always my strength. I really want to regain that back-end dominance. Every big meet it gets highlighted that that’s where the 100m is won.” (The Australian)
Magnussen’s history within the 100m freestyle event is indeed storied, having earned back-to-back World Championships gold medals in 2011 and 2013, while also claiming silver to America’s Nathan Adrian by just .01 of a second at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Since 2014, Maggie hasn’t been able to get back into 47-point form, but the Ravenswood Club swimmer is still only 26 years of age and hungry to be sprint king once again.
2011 World Championships (gold) – 47.63
2012 Olympic Games (silver) – 47.53
2013 World Championships (gold) – 47.71
2014 Aquatic Super Series – 47.59
2015 Aquatic Super Series – 48.43
2016 Australian Grand Prix – 48.59
Sick of doomsayers , nothing wrong from taking a positive approach …….. go hard and good wishes on low 47’s.
he thinks that a Commonwealth Games gold medal is harder to win that a World Championship gold? Wow where is the logic in that when every single country that takes part in the Commonwealth Games also takes part in the WC? One is a subset of the other but is more difficult?! This guy’s IQ has got to be lower than his 100 Free PB.
As someone who is both World & Commonwealth Champ , the likelihood of his knowing more about it than you is extremely high .
To say someone’s IQ is lower than 47.1 is kathygriffin vicious. Get a grip .
On the one hand everybody complains about Aussies producing their best times in March, at the end of a good summer season. On the other hand we have to listen to people saying that it is inconceivable that winning commonwealths in March against McEvoy (WR textile), Chalmers(Olympic champion) Magnussen (Former WR textile), is harder than Worlds……..come on guys you can’t have it both ways. If an Aussie goes faster than the WC winner, then we will all look forward to a humble pie eating session. If you don’t know that Australia’s summer season is different to the one you enjoy the Northern hemisphere…..then maybe it is you that needs a quick IQ check.
His final 50s during his peak years were things of beauty. I hope he can get back down there; for selfish swimfan reasons I’d love to witness that again. I wish him well.
Go hard son.
Have a great series of meets and see how you hold up.
Jimmy, me boy, in recent years you’ve done an awful lot of talking to the media ….. frankly you’ve talked 1000X a better game than what you’ve produced in the pool. How about NOT being such a media darling and let your performances talk for themselves.
TBH, if Chalmers CAN get on top of these heart issues, then I’m not seeing a really sure path to you getting anything more than a relay swim at any major intl meet. If young Cartwright continues to step up then odds are that you WON’T be swimming for 100fr gold at Toytowns.
Would be deliriously happy for you to prove me wrong, Jimmy, but I’m just not seeing you ever breaking 48 flat… Read more »
why are you so pessimistic?
WHY ?? Because of the facts of his performances post operation. He talked himself up continually in the lead-up to Trials but he wasn’t even breaking 49. He barely broke 48.5 at Trials and wasn’t anywhere near challenging for an individual berth. He talked big about the relay going into Rio ….. and how did he swim there ?
I was NOT one who jumped on his back after London nor after another relay “air swing” in 2013. At that point, he was at least physically capable of being able to back up at least some of his talk. However, he’s continued to talk big to the media since his operation but its looking distinctly the case that his body… Read more »
You love repeating the same concept don’t you, why don’t you actually post some relative information rather then recycling something that makes you seem like you know what you’re talking about. Seeing you ‘know everything’ how can’t you understand that having back problems from mid 2014 and a major open shoulder injury within a year from olympic trials that going sub 47 you need to have perfect preparation. it’s so simple mate.
Adrian broke him in London (twice).
And he got beaten by a 18 year old in Rio ??
Im sure Adrian cries himself to sleep every night with his 5x Olympic Gold, 1x Silver, and 2x bronze.
And by the way, you just made his point for him. Adrian got beat by a young challenger. What does he do? Unlike Magnussen who decides to pull out of high level competition, Adrian gets back to it with different race strategies to try and find a way to beat him. He is MUCH stronger mentally than Magnussen, which is why he has been the most consistent sprinter in the world the last 7-8 years
I’m sure he does sleep well at night with all that glitter next to him.
You have to realize is this that James has had a back injury that is degenerative plus a partial shoulder recon to boot.
Dont you think he would of consulted with his drs and rehabilitation people and coaches to preserve his swimming career?
What i can see he still enjoys swimming.
If and If he gets back to his best his back end speed along with King Kyles both the aussie boys will leave Adrian behind.
I don’t see them racing each other anytime soon or ever for that matter. Magnus son can’t beat his own teammates to make an international squad
Are you serious??
James And Cam are racing each other this week and the next in Monaco,Barcelona etc
Plus Comm games trials in Jan 2018
TAA is pretty much on the money. He hasn’t swum sub 48 since 2014 Nationals; he failed to do so at 2014 CG, Pan Pacs or 2015 Nats. Both McEvoy and Chalmers (if he overcomes current health issues) are now clearly ahead of him, Cartwright is now swimming sub 48.5 and faster than anything Magnussen has been able to produce post operation. He has a chance at the 3rd AUS spot for CG but for all other events where its 2 per nation, he’s more realistically looking at being a relay swimmer only.
As to whether he can/will be satisfied with that going forward is something only he can answer. His physique is quite different to what it was… Read more »
Magnussen is done he’ll never beat Adrain again or get remotely close!
Adrian*
Oh my dear “commonwombat” with all those flavors out there, why did you have to be so sour??
Why all this finger pointing, judging… I’m sure Maggie have a reason to be the way he is and I’m sure you don’t know him or his path well enough to have an opinion so radical about it…
Hey, he certainly is a big boy and is free to keep on talking himself up …. its just that its looking increasingly the case that his body can no longer back up his talk.As I replied earlier in this thread, I wasn’t one who jumped on him after London. Yes, he talked himself up but at least he was showing himself physically capable of being able to back up his sales pitch … even if he made a mess of relays. However, post operation, he has continued to run to the media talking himself up but his performances have never remotely backed up his sales talk.
As it is, his path to AUS selection is far from assured,… Read more »
I don’t read The Australian but plenty of ppl do – they tend to be on the conservative side who also tend to be business orientated . What is wrong with putting your best side out to that market? He doesn’t likely pay for his Hugo Boss suits ( in which he looks fabulous) but maybe swans around corporate functiions .
I actually don’t know but I remember him as a kid in the Port Macquarie pool & think it is great he got to where he did. Everyone has a peak & we all could do better handling our inevitable downward spiral . If mid 48s are his then it ain’t too bad .
Good luck JM .
I completely agree with your basic premise: never going under 48 again.