He admits it hasn’t been easy but world champion James Magnussen has sworn off the drink in the lead-up to next month’s Olympic swimming trials.

Magnussen, 20, is hot favourite for the 100m freestyle in London and is expected to have no problems qualifying for the Australian team in the Adelaide meet, starting March 15.

But the 20-year-old is leaving no stone unturned on his path towards Olympic glory, revealing he has yet to touch a drop of alcohol in 2012.

“I’ve been off the drink since New Year’s and I won’t be drinking again before the Olympic trials, which is tough for someone my age,” Magnussen told AAP.

“A lot of people my age are out partying and having fun but it will certainly be worth it at the end of the day I hope.”

Magnussen said learning to make sacrifices with his lifestyle and diet had been a major factor behind his remarkable rise from a virtual unknown to the world’s top sprint swimmer.

“It really wasn’t something I learned until I made the Australian team (in 2010),” Magnussen said.

“I realised that if I was going to make the step from being just part of the team to being internationally successful and winning big events, you do have to cut some things out which maybe I wasn’t willing to a few years ago.”

Magnussen said he would likely indulge a little after trials before turning his focus to London.

“It’s about finding a balance,” Magnussen said.

“If I was to say I’m not going to drink for the next six months, I think that would be a little unrealistic and maybe decrease my performance, if anything, because you don’t have that balance of enjoyment and training as much as you need to.

“… Then after London I’ll have a little bit of time off and hopefully be able to enjoy the good life a little.”