Magnussen back on track with fastest freestyle

Australia's James Magnussen has brushed
aside months of post-Olympic controversy
with the fastest 50 metres freestyle of the
year to confirm his blistering form ahead
of the world championships in Spain.
Reuters
The 22-year-old's disappointing London
showing, where he failed to lead Australia to
the 4x100m relay title and finished second in
the individual event, was followed by a lengthy
post-mortem back home.
Magnussen was hit with a fine and suspended
ban for using a sedative in a pre-Games
bonding ritual with team mates and has made
several media appearances this year
apologising for his role in what was portrayed
as a dysfunctional Australian team.
At the Australian championships in Adelaide
this week, however, Magnussen put all that
behind him and proved that he still has no
domestic match over one or two lengths of the
pool.
On Tuesday, he won the 100 metres freestyle
for a third successive national title in 47.53
seconds - the fastest time of the year in the
blue riband sprint.
On Thursday, he again blew away all
competition to claim victory in the shorter
sprint in 21.52 seconds - his personal best
over 50 metres and quick enough to have
secured silver in the event at last year's
Olympics.
"I got in the warm-up pool and thought 'it is
going to be quick tonight'," Magnussen told
reporters.
"That was the best 50m I have ever put
together technically. The moment I broke out
of the water I knew I had it in the bag."
Magnussen will defend his 100 freestyle world
title in Barcelona in August and although keen
to retain the title he won in Shanghai two years
ago, his focus remains on Olympic redemption
in Brazil in 2016.
"I think I still have a bit of work to do to get
my confidence back up to the level it was
leading into the Olympics," he said after his
100m victory in Adelaide.
"But as far as I'm concerned ... we have four
years to get my confidence back. While this
world championship is really important to me
and I'm defending my worl