ROME: Italian 100m freestyle world champion Filippo Magnini admitted on Thursday that American rival Michael Phelps is still the top dog in the
pool.
Magnini is gunning for a third straight world title in the 100m freestyle having triumphed in Montreal four years ago and in Melbourne in 2007.
But he said that 14-time Olympic gold medallist Phelps's absence from the 100m would be a bonus for himself.
"I'm not here to come second and I know my opponents well. As for Phelps I'm truly happy he's not doing the 100m freestyle, he'd be one more competitor," Magnini told a press conference here.
"For sure he's the man to beat but this year I've already put him in trouble twice.
"I'm sure he feels my presence, here in my home country everyone knows I'm not here for second place."
However, even if Phelps had been racing, Magnini doesn't think the American, who won a record eight gold medals in the pool at last year's Olympics in Beijing, would have won.
He won't be there because he pulled out of the US trials last month due to a stiff neck.
"Of course I'm not disappointed (that Phelps isn't doing the 100m freestyle). He was one of the best, also at 100m, but not this year," added the Italian.
"I think he understood that he wouldn't have won and the stiff neck was just an excuse."
While the world champion won't have Phelps to worry about, he will be pitted against Frenchman Alain Bernard and world record holder Eammon Sullivan of Australia.
Between those two they lowered the world record three times from 47.50sec to 47.05sec in Beijing and Magnini, whose own best time is 48.11sec, believes that mark will be lowered here below 47sec.
"It's probable, although I hope not. For sure I'm going to need to hold something back at the start, something I always do in my races," he said.
"If in the final I can stay with the others over the first 50m and then I can do a second half as I did at the Olympics, the fastest of all time, I'll be there or thereabouts."
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Magnini is gunning for a third straight world title in the 100m freestyle having triumphed in Montreal four years ago and in Melbourne in 2007.
But he said that 14-time Olympic gold medallist Phelps's absence from the 100m would be a bonus for himself.
"I'm not here to come second and I know my opponents well. As for Phelps I'm truly happy he's not doing the 100m freestyle, he'd be one more competitor," Magnini told a press conference here.
"For sure he's the man to beat but this year I've already put him in trouble twice.
"I'm sure he feels my presence, here in my home country everyone knows I'm not here for second place."
However, even if Phelps had been racing, Magnini doesn't think the American, who won a record eight gold medals in the pool at last year's Olympics in Beijing, would have won.
He won't be there because he pulled out of the US trials last month due to a stiff neck.
"Of course I'm not disappointed (that Phelps isn't doing the 100m freestyle). He was one of the best, also at 100m, but not this year," added the Italian.
"I think he understood that he wouldn't have won and the stiff neck was just an excuse."
While the world champion won't have Phelps to worry about, he will be pitted against Frenchman Alain Bernard and world record holder Eammon Sullivan of Australia.
Between those two they lowered the world record three times from 47.50sec to 47.05sec in Beijing and Magnini, whose own best time is 48.11sec, believes that mark will be lowered here below 47sec.
"It's probable, although I hope not. For sure I'm going to need to hold something back at the start, something I always do in my races," he said.
"If in the final I can stay with the others over the first 50m and then I can do a second half as I did at the Olympics, the fastest of all time, I'll be there or thereabouts."
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