After easing tensions with Jacco Verhaeren, James Magnussen admits he’ll need a world record-nudging 100m freestyle time just to make the national swimming coach’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games team.
Ahead of the Queensland championships, Magnussen said he was now “sweet” with Verhaeren after earning the Dolphins mentor’s ire over criticism of his 2017 world titles relay team tactics.
Magnussen skipped the worlds in Hungary to concentrate on the Gold Coast trials but still annoyed Verhaeren by questioning on Fox Sports why the underperforming relay teams weren’t leading off with their fastest swimmers.
A war of words looked set to erupt after Magnussen later stood by his criticism and an annoyed Verhaeren vowed to call the 2012 London silver medallist upon his return from Budapest.
But Magnussen, 26, told AAP on Friday: “We are all sweet.
“Anything I said was in an attempt to help the team.
“I am a part of that team and will always have the team’s best interests at heart.”
He may have smoothed the waters with Verhaeren but there is no clear sailing ahead for Magnussen who reckons cracking the 47 second barrier for the first time may not guarantee him a Gold Coast 100m berth.
The world record stands at 46.91.
Magnussen shocked the world with his personal best 47.10 at the London trials – at the time the fastest 100m outside a now banned supersuit.
But he has not broken 48 seconds since he had a shoulder reconstruction two years ago.
His best effort was 48.68 on the European circuit in June.
“There is a pretty good chance someone is going to break 47 seconds and still miss out on the team,” Magnussen said.
“It is going to be as quick as it has ever been, it’s the most stacked event in Australian swimming at the moment.”
Out of international action for two years as he recovered from shoulder surgery, the ex-dual world champion will hope to launch a comeback at the Commonwealth Games trials on the Gold Coast from February 28.
He begins his countdown at the seven-day Queensland championships in Brisbane from Saturday.
Magnussen will need to secure a top three 100m trials finish in a field boasting Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers, national sprint king Cameron McEvoy and world titles discovery Jack Cartwright.
He will get a first look at the competition at the Queensland championships where all three rivals will line up.
Asked if he was daunted, Magnussen said: “Not particularly.
“The important thing is to remember it’s not just making the team, it’s about achieving at international standard.
“And if you want to win at the Commonwealth Games you can’t be daunted by trials.”
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