Two-time 1500m freestyle champion Grant Hackett produced a superb Olympic trial when he swam 14 min 51.62 seconds in a grand prix meet in Sydney.
Hackett surprised himself on Sunday with how easily he swam in a low-key event while he is still in full training.
"I've never broken 15 minutes in hard work before," Hackett said, barely breathing heavily after his world class swim.
"To go 14.51 - I'm really happy with that."
Hackett said he wasn't necessarily trying to send a message to his rivals for the gold medal in Beijing.
"I don't think I need to remind anyone. I've got the runs on the board and people know I'm going to be competitive," he said.
Cate Campbell earlier scorched the pool, producing the fifth-fastest time in history in the 50m freestyle.
The 16-year-old touched the wall in 24.17 seconds in a head to head race against world record holder Libby Trickett (27.17s) at Olympic Park.
Campbell is quickly looming as one of Trickett's greatest threats in the 50m and 100m freestyle at next month's Beijing Olympics.
But Trickett's performance in the one-lap dash is no reason for concern, the sprint star is using the meet as training and has competed in standard swimmers.
Campbell (54.20s) backed up her 50m win just ten minutes later by winning the 100m freestyle with Trickett (55.78s) fifth.
