James Magnussen has defied a painful back injury to come away with bronze at the 2014 Pan Pacs swimming meet on the Gold Coast.
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Port Macquarie's Missile outswam US great Michael Phelps (4th), but it was teammate Cameron McEvoy who claimed gold in a sizzling time of 48.49.
Nathan Adrian from the USA claimed second but the hometown support from Port Macquarie is keeping Magnussen going as he looks ahead.
While Magnussen's career has taken him around the globe, he says his heart is always at home in Port Macquarie.
"The local support has always meant so much to me. Being a professional swimmer has taken me away from Port Macquarie geographically but not in terms of my heritage and where my heart is," Magnussen said.
"If the people of Port Macquarie and particularly young people in Port get some satisfaction out of what I am able to achieve then I am very proud of that. I am also really proud of the presence and contribution my family makes in the area. I do always get back to Port when I can and it really grounds me and reminds me to stop and enjoy things every once in a while.
"I just really feel that I have been so lucky in many parts of my life and having the opportunity to do what I love for a job and some of the great opportunities that come with it is something I have become really conscious of as I have become older.
"Along with that for me personally comes a strong feeling of really wanting to inspire and help other wherever I can.
"Sometimes that can be by performing at my best in the pool and hopefully inspiring people that way but at other times it is about showing that you care for other people and helping out wherever you can with large things and sometimes just small things like taking the time for an autograph or a photo."
ONE HD will telecast the finals of the 2014 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships from 7pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
Saturday, FINALS 7pm, live telecast:
- 1500m freestyle W
- 100m butterfly W/M
- 400m freestyle W/M
- 200m backstroke W/M
- 4x100m freestyle relay W/M
Sunday, 10am (heats):
- 800m freestyle M
- 200m individual medley W/M
- 50m freestyle W/M
- 200m breaststroke W/M
- 1500m freestyle W
Sunday, FINALS 7pm, live telecast:
- 800m freestyle M
- 200m individual medley W/M
- 50m freestyle W/M
- 200m breaststroke W/M
- 1500m freestyle W
- 4x100m medley relay W/M