SHANGHAI, July 28 (Reuters) - James Magnussen will take the weight of around 22 million Australians on his broad shoulders when he steps onto the starting blocks for the men’s 100 metres freestyle final at the world swimming championships on Thursday.
Despite Australia’s proud record in the pool, they have yet to win a world title in the men’s 100 freestyle and the 20-year-old Magnussen, whose blistering lead-off leg helped his country to a shock 4x100 metres freestyle gold on Sunday, has qualified fastest for the blue riband event.
Magnussen and Brazilian 2009 world champion Cesar Cielo, the fifth fastest qualifier, will be followed into the pool by Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte as they duel for gold in an intriguing men’s 200 metres individual medley final.
Phelps is the Olympic champion, while Lochte won the title at the last world championships in Rome and is also the world record holder.
Both cruised through their semi-final as the top-two qualifiers and Lochte said despite their rivalry in the pool they remained good friends out of it.
“No matter what the outcome is between us, we are still friends.” Lochte said. “We still play hard together.”
Lochte will have a busy day with the heats and semi-finals of the men’s 200 backstroke, an event in which he is the Olympic champion where he will face Japan’s Irie Ryosuke—the fastest man in the field this year.
Britain’s Jemma Lowe will also be trying to add to Britain’s medal tally in the women’s 200 butterfly final after she produced a strong finish in the final lap in her semi-final to set the fastest qualifying time. Team mate Ellen Gandy qualified fourth-fastest.
“I’m really happy to get into the final,” Lowe said.
“I’ve got my best shot (to win a medal) and I’m very excited. There’s one year to go until the Olympic Games (and) my goal is to win the highest medal.
“I will enjoy myself.”
(additional reporting by Soo Ai Peng)
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