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Italy's swimmers spoke of their confidence ahead of the Beijing Olympics before leaving for China to take part in next month's Games.

It is in the pool where Italy are expected to perform at their best with the likes of Alessia Filippi, Filippo Magnini, Massimiliano Rosolino and 400m freestyle world record holder Federica Pellegrini all expected to bring home medals.

Filippi said she was coming into the Olympic event off the ideal preparation having won two European titles in Eindhoven in March - in the 800m freestyle and 400m medley.

"I'm going to Beijing knowing that I've achieved top results this year, the last of which was the European record in the 1,500m freestyle (July 16) at the Assoluti Estivi, but I always say that the Olympics is another sport not (just) another event," she said.

But while Filippi, the pin-up girl of the team, has proved her talent at European level, it is from beyond the continent that she expects her biggest challenges to come.

"There are many (rivals) from the Americans to the Australians," she said.

"We're also worried about the Chinese who we haven't seen for more than a year, or maybe more.

"However, we'll be arriving in Beijing with a collection of (former) medalists and we hope to return to Italy from China with even more Olympic metals, and hopefully some of the most precious (gold)."

Magnini, a four time world champion, is one of those former medalists having won bronze in the 4x200m freestyle in Athens.

He has posted several impressive showings at the Games but now he wants more.

"After the third, fourth and fifth places in Athens in the 4x200m, 4x100m and 100m freestyle, I hope to finish first or second in Beijing," he said.

He said he's not expecting much from the hosts in his favoured discipline, the 100m freestyle, in which he has twice won the world title, but that he still has plenty of competition.

"In theory there aren't any Chinese in the 100m for me to worry about but rather I need to look out for the French, Australians, Swedes and Americans," said Magnini, who's not expecting any distractions out of the pool.

"At the Games I won't be having sex but only because my girlfriend won't be there," he added.

"From the beginning it's better to do everything the right way and that way I can say that I did everything possible to do my best in my race.

"After the Games I'll have all the time in the world to let off steam."

AFP