'Neck was an excuse'

World champion Filippo Magnini admitted he was pleased to hear of Michael Phelps' absence in his 100m freestyle race as the World Championships got under way in Rome yesterday.

But the Italian also claimed Phelps' 'stiff neck' was an excuse because he understood he would not have won.

Magnini is gunning for a third straight world title in the 100m freestyle having triumphed in Montreal in 2005 and at Melbourne in 2007.

But he said that the absence of 14-time Olympic gold medallist Phelps from the 100m would be a bonus for himself.

"I'm not here to come second and I know my opponents well. As for Phelps I'm truly happy he's not doing the 100m freestyle, he'd be one more competitor," Magnini told a press conference.

"For sure, he's the man to beat, but this year I've already put him in trouble twice. I'm sure he feels my presence, here in my home country everyone knows I'm not here for second place."

However, even if Phelps had been racing, Magnini doesn't think the American, who won a record eight gold medals in the pool at last year's Olympics in Beijing, would have won.

Phelps won't be there because he pulled out of the trials in the US last month with a stiff neck.

"Of course I'm not disappointed [that Phelps isn't doing the 100m freestyle]. He was one of the best, also at 100m, but not this year," added the Italian. "I think he understood that he wouldn't have won and the stiff neck was just an excuse."

While the world champion won't have Phelps to worry about, he will face Frenchman Alain Bernard and Australian world record holder Eammon Sullivan.

Between those two they lowered the world record three times from 47.50sec to 47.05sec in Beijing.

And Magnini, whose own best time is 48.11sec, believes that mark will be lowered here below 47sec.

"It's probable, although I hope not," he said. "In the final, if I can stay with the others over the first 50m and then do a second half as I did at the Olympics, the fastest of all time, I'll be there."

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