Australia's Grant Hackett, looking to become the first male swimmer to win three successive Olympic gold medals in the same event, said he was more relaxed going to Beijing than he had been at previous Games.

Hackett, who has won two Olympic 1,500m freestyle titles, said yesterday his preparation in Malaysia for the Olympic Games had been flawless, adding to his confidence.

"For me going three in a row, I realise the attention and expectation that comes with that," Hackett told reporters after arriving in Beijing. "But at the same time I probably feel more relaxed with this than I felt in the past two (Games)."

Hackett won his first 1,500m Olympic title in front of a home crowd during the Sydney Games in 2000, and has since admitted he had put himself under enormous pressure at the time to do well.

The 28-year-old won his second in Athens four years later, competing with a partially collapsed lung that diminished his lung capacity by 25 per cent, without telling his team doctors.

"Touch wood, everything is going according to plan this time. I was always looking forward to these Olympics and I have prepared myself physically and mentally," he said.

"There are so many rivals this time round and more depth than ever. Now you just have to go out there, give it your best shot and the results will talk for themselves."

Hackett's preparations were given a major boost last month when he shaved almost two seconds off his own world record in the short-course 800m freestyle.

"I am confident I can get the best out of myself. I feel fit to race and look forward to doing everything correctly."