Back to her best after her own shoulder surgery hell, Cate Campbell has tipped James Magnussen to repeat the feat by the Rio Olympics following his devastating world titles withdrawal.
Magnussen's quest to become the first person to win three straight 100m freestyle world titles has been shattered after being ordered to undergo immediate shoulder surgery.
The sprint king will be a glaring omission at July's world championships in Russia and place enormous pressure on him to be fully fit by the 2016 Rio Games.
Fellow world 100m champion Campbell knew exactly what lay ahead for Magnussen and did not try to sugar-coat it.
"I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy and certainly not a teammate," Campbell told AAP.
"Shoulders are very tough to come back from."
But Campbell is proof a stunning comeback is possible.
Campbell admitted she was willing to sacrifice her world title defence at Kazan this year and concentrate on the Rio Olympics when she underwent shoulder surgery last August.
But during a slow recovery she feared she may have ruined her Olympic dream and possibly prematurely ended her career.
However after bouncing back at April's national titles, Campbell is again suddenly the one to beat at the world titles and Rio.
"I think it is a very wise decision," Campbell said of Magnussen opting for surgery.
"Ultimately everyone's focus is on Rio and I think it is wise that he gets the surgery done now so when the Olympics roll around he will be as close to 100 per cent as he can be."
Magnussen will have surgery in June after it emerged damage to his left shoulder had caused it to lose 70 per cent of its strength.
Campbell said Magnussen had already shown the mental strength to overcome the huge hurdle.
Magnussen bounced back from a horror London Olympics where he bombed in the relay and was denied 100m gold by American Nathan Adrian's fingernail by defending his world title in 2013.
"He has already shown he is a tough competitor, that he is willing to do whatever it takes," Campbell said.
"That will serve him well over the next few months.
"If anyone can do it, James can."
Magnussen was trying to stay positive.
"We, as a team, have explored every possible avenue to allow me to compete but unfortunately surgery is the only viable option if I am to be fit for the 2016 Rio Olympics," he said in a statement.
"I will now focus all my time and effort on preparing for the Olympics next year."
Australian head coach Jacco Verhaeren is yet to decide who replaces Magnussen in the 50m and 100m events and the 4x100m freestyle relay.
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