Photo Courtesy: Jeff Commings
SYDNEY, Australia, September 15. JUST two years out from the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics, Australian world champion James Magnussen has decided to leave his longtime coach Brant Best according to multiple media reports.
The two-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist released a statement today confirming the move.
“Brant has been such an important part of my journey as a professional swimmer, and in shaping me as person,” Magnussen said in a statement. “Those things combined have made this decision incredibly difficult. As I launch into this next competitive block, I have resolved that in order to refocus my program, and to achieve a sense of renewed invigoration, part of that change process involves working with a new coach.”
Magnussen has been fighting off a back injury this month that has cost him some training time, and forced him out of the Singapore Swim Stars event, and injury that also likely led to a third-place finish in the 100-meter free at the Pan Pacific Championships after winning the gold at the Commonwealth Games.
Magnussen is on a break to try to get his back injury rehabbed, and is expected to name a new coach soon.