James Magnussen not ready to sacrifice 100m freestyle title for the 200m freestyle – Swimming News
Australian 100m freestyle champion, James Magnussen has stated that he is not willing to sacrifice his 100m freestyle title at the 2012 London Olympic Games by rushing his way into the 200m freestyle.
The 20-year-old Magnussen, who won gold medal of 100m freestyle at the 2011 Shanghai World Championships, was taking keen interest in the 200m discipline.
Magnussen, who will also compete in the 50m freestyle event at the Australian Selection Trials for the 2012 London Olympics, has stated that he will reserve his participation in the 200m discipline until the Olympic Games.
Many swimming giants believed that the 200m freestyle would suit him more as a partner event with the 100m discipline, but the young Australian star expressed that it is not worth it to take the risk, especially at this time of his career.
“I've talked to a lot of people in a lot of difference positions in the sport about it. The general consensus is yeah, I could probably do a quick 200m, but it really could be a possibility of sacrificing a gold in the 100m for a final in the 200m. It's
not worth it at this stage of my career but it's certainly something I want to pursue internationally in the next year or so,” he said.
In addition, Magnussen is agonized with his sluggish 49.02 seconds effort at the last week’s New South Wales (NSW) State Open Championships. After a dazzling start of the season, where he reported 48.05 seconds to alarm his competitors, his effort at the
NSW meet brought hopes to his challengers.
He wants to lower Cesar Cielo’s world mark of 46.91 seconds at the upcoming Olympic Games and therefore, he believes that it would not be wise to compete in the event that would disrupt his performance in his main event. He thinks it is imperative that he
utilises his full potential at the forthcoming Olympic trials, as this would provide him competitive edge over his competitors
The Australian trials for the Olympic Games will take place in Adelaide, next month, where the 20-year-old will face comeback king, Ian Thorpe in the 100m discipline.
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