‘Very tidy time': Aussie freestyler accepts challenge thrown down by American rival
Australian Olympic swimmer Max Giuliani has accepted the challenge thrown down by USA speedster Luke Hobson in the 200m freestyle last week.
The 21-year-old, who finished seventh in Paris' final for the event last year, said he was impressed by Hobson's time of 1:43.73 at the US National Trials, over a second faster than Giuliani's personal best of 1:44.79.
Hobson became the first American to break the 1:44 mark since Olympic legend Michael Phelps and currently ranks number one in the world with the effort.
'It was absolutely a very tidy time and I think Luke is an amazing athlete,' Giuliani said.
'The way he's swimming it now is a lot different to how he was swimming it this time last year.
'I think it's great for the sport and I'm excited to go toe-to-toe with him.
'It's a huge motivation for us – everyone is aiming for that sub-1:44 swim and now someone has done it so I think the floodgates have opened and we should see a few more.'
Now competing in this year's Australian Swimming Trials in Adelaide ahead of the World Championships in Singapore next month, Giuliani is hoping to build significantly from his experience in Paris.
He said he took a long break to recover from the Olympics and now feels ready to attack 2025 with his best.
'I had a big break of about a month, which was enormous for me, it was probably the longest I've been out of the pool.
'I went back home to Tasmania which was amazing, just seeing everyone there and being able to reset.
'It just fuelled me, being at the Olympics and being around those guys who are winning and are the best at what they do was really inspiring.
'I want to do everything I can to be one of those people come LA (2028).'
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