Dual world champion and Olympic silver medallist James Magnussen could not have wished for a better Australia Day call than the one he received from Swimming Australia to confirm his addition to the National Team for next week’s Perth Aquatic Super Series against China and Japan.
Following his successful return from shoulder surgery at last week’s Victorian State Championships with victories in the 50 and 100m freestyle, Magnussen will join the Australian Dolphins for the first international competition of the year.
Magnussen is one of four additions National Head Coach Jacco Verhaeren has made to complete the Dolphins team for Perth.
Joining Magnussen will be Nunawading (VIC) duo, medley swimmer Travis Mahoney and backstroker Josh Beaver and Spartans (QLD) middle-distance freestyler Leah Neale.
Magnussen, who won the 50m freestyle in 22.51 and the 100m in 49.35 in his Melbourne return, admitted today he was naturally worried about how the shoulder would come through that first race.
“It actually came through with flying colours in what was definitely a big first step up and now I’m facing another test (in Perth) and it will be great to get some international race experience right off the bat before I race the NSW Championships in March and then the Olympic Trials (in Adelaide in April) before the Olympics.
“To get the call up to represent your country on Australia Day was special and certainly gave me that extra motivation for yesterday’s training session (at Ravenswood).
“It’s always a proud moment to get the call to represent your country and reflect on what that means and how special it is.
“I will knuckle down between now and next week (with coach Mitch Falvey) on some specific speed work. We have come off a block of work on my fitness and it’s good to get that feel back and get a race under my belt and to now work on a few more specifics.
“It was a matter of getting back and enjoying being back on the blocks (in Melbourne) and it was important not to over think it too much and take it all in before the Perth meet
“The disappointment of missing last year’s meets, the Mare Nostrum, the World Championships was the first thing I had to get my head around.
“It was the first time I had missed a major meet for six years and it took a week or two to accept that.
“And then it was one year to go to Rio and I knew if I was to do it then my re-hab had to be absolutely perfect and the team around me kept me motivated and positive.
“They were all dedicated to my return, working on my swimming, gym, Pilates and physio. It was a real collaborative effort.”
Magnussen will join rival, 2015 FINA World Championship silver medallist over 100m Cam McEvoy to bolster Australia’s sprint freestyle attack against the emerging Chinese and Japanese teams.
Commonwealth Games representative Mahoney comes into the Dolphins team to replace Olympian, Commonwealth Games and Pan Pac gold medallist Thomas Fraser Holmes, who will remain on the Gold Coast under Denis Cotterell to train.
Mahoney, 25, showed his early season form with a solid victory in the 400m individual medley at the Victorian State Championships, clocking a 4:20.56.
Nunawading teammate, dual Commonwealth Games medallist and World Championship team member Josh Beaver, 22, will join Kazan world champion Mitch Larkin in the backstroke events after his silver and bronze medal swims behind Larkin in Melbourne.
While 2014 FINA World Short Course bronze medallist in the 4x200m freestyle, Leah Neale, will return to the team for the 200 and 400m freestyle events.
Neale was a member of Australia’s 4x200m freestyle relay team that finished sixth in this year’s FINA World Championships.
The Australian Dolphins will head to Perth on Tuesday February 3 to prepare for the two-day meet on Friday and Saturday at the HBF Stadium.
Tickets available through Ticketmaster:
The Australian Team v China and Japan, Perth Aquatic Super Series, HBF Stadium, February 5 and 6.
The Perth Aquatic Super Series is managed by Swimming Australia and supported by the State Government through Tourism Western Australia.
Swimming Australia contributed this report.
AUSTRALIAN DOLPHINS
MALE
Joshua Beaver (Events: 50, 100, 200 backstroke)
Jayden Hadler (Events: 100m butterfly)
Mack Horton (Events: 400, 1500m freestyle)
Justin James (Events: 200IM):
Mitch Larkin (Events: 100, 200m backstroke):
James Magnussen (Events: 50, 100m freestyle):
Travis Mahoney (Events: 220, 400IM)
Cameron McEvoy (Events: 50, 100, 200m freestyle):
David McKeon (Events: 200, 400m freestyle):
David Morgan (100, 200m butterfly):
Jake Packard (Events: 100, 200m breaststroke):
Matthew Wilson (Events: 100, 200m breaststroke)
FEMALE
Jessica Ashwood (Events: 400, 800m freestyle):
Georgia Bohl (Events: 100, 200m breaststroke):
Bronte Campbell (Events: 50, 100m freestyle)
Cate Campbell (Events: 50, 100m freestyle):
Emma McKeon (Events: 100, 200m freestyle, 100m butterfly):
Taylor McKeown (Events: 100, 200m breaststroke):
Keryn McMaster (Events: 200, 400 IM)
Leah Neale (Events: 200 and 400m freestyle)
Emily Seebohm (Events: 100, 200m backstroke):
Brianna Throssell (Events: 200m butterfly, 200, 400IM):
Tessa Wallace (Events: 100, 200m breaststroke, 200, 400m IM):
Madison Wilson (Events: 100, 200m backstroke)