World 100m freestyle champion James Magnussen is plotting a reconnaissance mission to London as part of his plans to leave no stone unturned in his quest for Olympic gold.
The 20-year-old, a hot favourite to become Australia’s first gold medallist in the event since Michael Wenden in 1968, is expected to have no problems booking his spot on the team at next month’s Olympic trials in Adelaide.
And Magnussen revealed on Thursday he and coach Brant Best are set to board a plane to the UK soon after the trials to ramp up preparations for the biggest meet of his career.
“I think it’s really important, just to be able to get to London, to be familiar with the surroundings,” Magnussen said.
“Not to have any surprises or to know, for example, of a morning that I’ve got to walk 2km from the breakfast hall to my unit or it’s going to be a 20-minute bus ride to the pool.
“Just have all those logistics worked out, to be able to pre-plan for those things, is a massive advantage.
“To have a look at the pool and get that image in my head so I can go to bed each night and dream about the pool and the set-up.”
Magnussen admits he is finding it a challenge not to get ahead of himself as he dreams what is possible in London.
The confident swimmer has made no secret of his desire to smash Cesar Cielo’s supersuit world record of 46.91 seconds at the Games and while he is enjoying the build-up, he would happily fast forward to the men’s 100m final on August 1.
“If I could race it tomorrow I would,” Magnussen said.
“There’s so much talk and pressure and expectation surrounding that race that I really just want to get there and get in the water and finally have some control over the outcome.”
Magnussen’s meteoric rise continued on Thursday as he was officially unveiled in a new sponsorship with electronics giant Samsung.
It puts the Port Macquarie swimmer in illustrious company, with soccer superstar David Beckham signing on last year as the company’s global brand ambassador.
“I think that’s a great space for me,” Magnussen joked of sharing ambassador status with the LA Galaxy star.
“I’m a big ‘Becks fan. I’d like to meet him if I could.”
