We at G10 are big fans of male swimmers, and Australia’s James Magnussen is one of our favorites. However, the champion swimmer got a rough start at the 2012 Olympic Games.

James “The Missile” Magnussen came to the Olympics with high hopes. The 21-year-old athlete is the current 100-metre freestyle champion and holds the record for the fastest swim in textile material. Therefore, it seemed a no brainer that Magnussen, Australia's lead swimmer in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay, would set the pace for an Australian victory. However, that didn’t happen.

Magnussen swam a 48.03 in Sunday’s relay event, nearly a full second over expectations, putting his team in a tough spot. France ultimately won the event, with America and Russia taking home the silver and bronze medals. The Australian team, who were certain they’d at least earn a spot on the podium, placed fourth, much to the athletes’ disappointment. However, no one was as disappointed as Magnussen himself.

"Words can't describe how I feel," the athlete said. "I don't know what went wrong. I felt like I was going really well into that race. Obviously I'm bloody really disappointed, but it happens.”

Given James’ less-than-stellar relay performance in the relay, many now wonder how he’ll perform in Tuesday’s 100m freestyle. Magnussen was a gold medal favorite, but a win now seems far less certain.

However, don't count James out just yet. As the Bleacher Report notes, Magnussen is undoubtedly frustrated and will be more determined than ever to live up to the high expectations. Plus, James is a world-record holder so he’s certainly capable of extraordinary swim times.

The 100m men’s freestyle kicks off this Sunday. Tune in to see if James Magnussen is able to redeem himself. In the meantime, here are a few photos from the athlete’s official Facebook page.

Tags: james magnussen, male swimmer, australian swimmers, 2012 olympics, london olympic games, james magnussen australia, the missle, james the missle magnussen
Categories: Hotties