Magnussen’s confidence boosting result

NSWIS star James Magnussen has clocked his fastest post shoulder surgery 100m freestyle time in a major confidence boost for the former two-time world champion.

Magnussen clocked 48.49 to finish second behind Australian champion Cam McEvoy (48.43) on the first night of finals at the Rio Farewell Grand Prix in Brisbane.

Young gun Kyle Chalmers , who will join McEvoy in the individual 100m event in Rio next month, finished third in 48.80 with Magnussen’s Rio 4x100m freestyle team mate James Roberts fourth in 49.55.

Magnussen was beaming after the race, knowing his time would enhance Australia’s 4x100m freestyle relay and that his body was finally starting to catch up to his mind.

“It has been pretty demoralising knowing what you can do and feeling those physical limitations,” said Magnussen.

“So with my body starting to catch up with my mind it is so encouraging and gives me so much motivation for post Olympics.

“It is getting the strength in my left arm to sit up on my stroke; I’ve got a kind of unique technique; it takes a lot of strength and energy which is partly the reason I needed the shoulder re-construction.

“I just feel like it is sitting me back up now and just holding on longer during the race because of a better body position.”

In other events:

Mack Horton won the 800m freestyle in 7:55.74, James Magnussen, 50m freestyle 22.27, Jessica Ashwood 400m freestyle 4:07.21, Mitch Larkin 200m backstroke, 1:55.31, Taylor McKeown 200m breaststroke, 2:22.62, Bradlee Ashby (NZ) 200m IM 2:01.89, Emma McKeon 200m butterfly, 2:07.83, David Morgan 100m butterfly 53.13, Emily Seebohm 100m backstroke 59.20, Matthew Wilson 100m breaststroke 1:02.18, Keryn McMaster 400m IM 4:41.07, Cameron McEvoy 200m freestyle 1:47.30. 

And in the Multi Class:

Dan Fox won the 50m freestyle 25.47, Lakeisha Patterson 400m freestyle 4:46.46, Tiffany Thomas Kane 100m breaststroke 1:38.76, Matthew Levy 200m IM 2:39.88, Rachael Watson 150m IM 3:54.35, Brenden Hall 100m butterfly 1:02.12, Katja Dedkind 100m backstroke 1:15.61, Blake Cochrane 100m breaststroke 1:18.23, Ellie Cole 100m freestyle 1:03.89, Braeden Jason 200m freestyle 1:59.06, Rachael Watson 50m backstroke 1:24.81

For a full list of results follow this link: http://liveresults.swimming.org.au/SAL/2016GP1/