Michael Klim knows he’ll likely be left in the backwash of world champion James Magnussen when they meet for the first time at next week’s NSW swimming championships.
“I think it won’t really be a race to be honest unless I can catch a wave on his wash,” Klim says.
But the 34-year-old comeback swimmer isn’t shying away, seizing the chance for a final hit-out against Australia’s top sprinters before shooting for Olympic selection at next month’s trials in Adelaide.
Klim will compete in the 50m and 100m freestyle at Sydney Olympic Park from February 10-12, squaring off for the first time against Magnussen, the fastest man ever outside a supersuit.
The field will also include the likes of Eamon Sullivan and Matt Abood and Klim is aiming for further improvement after an encouraging performance at last month’s Victorian titles.
There Klim finished seventh in the 100m final, with his heat time of 50.15 seconds giving him renewed belief he has a realistic chance of jagging one of six relay spots on offer for the London team.
“I’m probably even more confident now that I have got a genuine chance having raced the younger guys, the top guys and being within a stroke or half a stroke at the Victorian championships,” Klim said.
“That’s looking at times from the likes of Matt Abood, Eamon (Sullivan) and James Roberts.
“I’m not looking at James Magnussen and Matthew Targett at the moment, I feel that’s probably out of reach.
“But to be in that second tier of swimmers at Olympic trials, I think I’ll be able to handle that situation and if I get into the final I give myself a chance to pull out something when it counts I guess.”
Klim, who won two relay gold medals at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, said he had no regrets about his decision to make a comeback and revealed the biggest challenge had been balancing swimming with work and family commitments.
“It hasn’t been easy on all fronts, I think the swimming has been easy part of it,” Klim said.
“But whatever happens I’ll walk away with my head held high.”
Klim said next week’s meet would be his last serious competition before trials.