It took some convincing but Australia head coach Jacco Verhaeren believes backstroke champion Mitch Larkin can be a medley threat at the world swimming titles.
Former dual world champion Mitch Larkin boldly declared he had regained his mojo after earning the world No.2 ranking in 100m and 200m backstroke at the recent world titles trials in Brisbane.
But Larkin also has the 200m individual medley competitors looking over their shoulder before July's world titles in South Korea.
He clocked a 200m IM Commonwealth record at the trials, posting a world No.1 time that was almost a second faster than Duncan Scott of Great Britain.
Just last year Verhaeren dismissed Larkin's medley chances, saying the backstroker was "not at the world standard" despite nabbing 200m IM silver at the 2018 Pan Pacs in Japan.
However, Verhaeren has changed his tune as the 27-strong Dolphins team begins its world titles camp in Cairns.
"Definitely the standard he is showing now he is up there for the (200m IM) medals," Verhaeren said of Larkin.
"He is very competitive. You can never predict what kind of medal it is and there are a few favourites there who are hard to beat.
"But in saying that he is definitely the one who can challenge these guys."
Remarkably, Larkin rarely trains for the IM event under coach Dean Boxall.
But Verhaeren believes simply adding the medley to his program had helped rejuvenate Larkin, who endured a form slump after claiming the 100m-200m backstroke double at the 2015 world titles.
"What the medley has done for him, it has shown him that physically there is nothing wrong with him," Verhaeren said.
"Even when he wasn't swimming backstroke that fast, his medley times were still up there and his backstroke in his medley has been consistently good.
"Whatever it was it is great to see him finally back in the backstroke."
Larkin was 0.27sec off breaking the 100m backstroke Commonwealth record at the trials before he backed up to post the world's second fastest 200m time this year.
Asked if he had his mojo back, Larkin said: "I think so.
"Dean (Boxall) said to me confidence is one of those things that once it gets rolling it takes over all of your races; I think that ball is well and truly rolling."
