Streamlined News: Magnussen Possibly in Relay Prelim; Lochte on Time Cover

PHOENIX, Arizona, July 19. AUSTRALIAN coaches are considering putting the fastest 100 freestyler in the world in the prelims of the 400 freestyle relay at the Olympics. James Magnussen could swim in the prelims of the relay just to get out the first-race jitters, said coach John Fowlie at the team's training camp in Manchester, England. While not a particularly shocking announcement, the news does put into question how the remaining five swimmers taped for relay duty — James Roberts, Matt Targett, Eamon Sullivan, Cameron McEvoy and Tom D'Orsogna — will factor into the other three spots in prelims. As the second-fastest swimmer in the world this year, Roberts might sit out prelims and wait for the final, and as the third- and fourth-fastest on the team, either Targett or Sullivan could make the final their first swim as well.

Ryan Lochte graces the cover of the new issue of Time Magazine, which hits newsstands tomorrow. The issue, which acts as the magazine's Olympic preview, features Lochte on the cover swimming backstroke. Lochte has been all over magazine covers in the past month. You'll remember that he was on the cover of Vogue recently, one of the few men to ever appear on that magazine's cover. And just in the past couple of weeks, he was on the cover of Men's Health Magazine and Men's Journal Magazine. If you're keeping score, that's four covers for Lochte leading up to the Olympics, and only one for Michael Phelps, who appeared on the cover of Details last week.

Just as a reminder, Swimming World will have a presence at the London Olympics, with John Lohn and Tiffany Elias headed across the pond soon to cover the meet from the London Aquatics Centre. In addition to having access to athletes for quotes immediately after their races, John and Tiffany will join me each day after finals for our Race Day shows. Be sure to come to swimmingworld.com for race recaps and analyses for all eight days of pool swimming competition, then stay for more coverage of aquatic sports, including open water swimming, diving, water polo and synchronized swimming.

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