The high-profile pullouts will not have any bearing on swimming and the events will see tough competition in the Delhi Commonwealth Games, Olympic champion Roland Schoeman said on Saturday.
Several athletes, including champion sprinter Usain Bolt and triple Olympic gold medallist swimmer Stephanie Rice, have pulled out of the Games taking away some shine from the event.
South African swimmer Schoeman said the swimming events, which start on Monday, will be fiercely contested.
"No medal comes easy at the Commonwealth Games and there are quality swimmers and medal contenders from several countries," the triple Olympian, who struck gold in the 4x100 metres freestyle relay at the 2004 Athens Games, said.
The Australian swimmers, known to dominate the pool, won a total of 53 medals, including 19 gold, way ahead of their competitors at the 2006 Melbourne Games.
"It is very different from the swimming world championship and in my view the only experience that beats competing at the Commonwealth Games, is the Olympics," Schoeman said.
Leigh Nugent, head coach of the Australian swimming team, said they can't take things easy as competition is going to be "tough" in the Games, held every four years for former British colonies.
"We expect to live up to the performances we had in the past Commonwealth Games. We have had a long history of being on top in swimming, but it is probably a challenge to stay there this time," Nugent said.
