James Magnussen says Australia’s 4x100m men’s freestyle relay team needed an overhaul after the London Olympics, but believes the new-look line-up is capable of returning to a world-class standard.
The controversial team were the face of Swimming Australia’s much-publicised review into a “toxic” culture in the squad during the 2012 Games.
Magnussen admits there was a hangover from the drama and the subsequent Stilnox investigation, and says it’s been positive for the relay team to enter a rebuilding phase.
Eamon Sullivan, James Roberts and Matt Targett are no longer part of the relay picture heading into the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow later this year, with Magnussen the only surviving member from the team that finished a disappointing fourth in London.
Youngsters Tommaso D’Orsogna, Cameron McEvoy, Kenneth To and Matthew Abood are the new breed and 100m freestyle world champion Magnussen is confident he can lead Australia back to the top at the next Olympics in Brazil in 2016.
