Confident Australian James Magnussen backed up his brash talk as he overhauled US veteran Jason Lezak to put his team in pole position for the 4x100m freestyle relay Olympic final on Sunday.
Magnussen, in his first swim of the London Games, clocked a sizzling 47.35 seconds in the final leg as he turned the tables on front-runner Lezak, who famously overtook France to claim gold for the United States in 2008.
Australia had trailed the Americans from halfway, but world champion Magnussen dived in at the last change to qualify his team top in 3:12.29 — grabbing the coveted lane four for Sunday night’s final.
Defending champions America were second quickest in 3:12.59, ahead of Russia (3:12.77) and France (3:13.38).
Magnussen, who insists the individual 100m freestyle is his to lose, had earlier spoken of his deep admiration for Lezak’s come-from-behind swim in 2008.
