Hackett predicts Montreal magic from Australia

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Team captain Grant Hackett is predicting a bold showing by Australia’s swimmers at the World Championships in Montreal in July.

The 38-member team is competing in Brisbane tonight and tomorrow as it continues its preparations for Canada.

Hackett says there are some very talented swimmers on the team and he believes some will make their mark at the world titles.

“There’s the name like Leisel Jones, Libby Lenton, Jodie Henry, Alice Mills, you know, a few younger members of the male team such as Andrew Lauterstein,” he said.

“It’s going to be interesting to see how our relays get up, so it’s post-Olympic year, there could be a few weak events, and a few people could sneak up and do something quite incredible.”

Hackett himself is seeking a history-making fourth 1,500-metres freestyle world title and continues his preparations in Brisbane.

Tonight he will start in the 100 and 400 metres freestyle, and on Saturday morning he will compete in the 200 metres.

Hackett said he was fit and enjoying his swimming.

“I was really happy with the way I performed at the World Championship trials and now it’s just a matter of focusing on what I have to do to improve my fitness that little bit more and step up at the World Championships,” he said.

Meanwhile, swimmers have been given an added incentive for the “Duel in the Pool” between Australia and the United States in California, which begins two days after the World Championships.

Any swimmer setting a world record will earn a $25,000 bonus.

The United States won the first duel in Indianapolis two years ago.