Ian Thorpe Still Pursuing Olympic Swimming Goal

PHOENIX, Arizona, October 10. DESPITE missing out on the opportunity to compete at the 2012 Olympics, Ian Thorpe is still training with the ultimate goal of earning a spot on Australia's roster for the 2016 Games.

Thorpe, the four-time Olympic champion, said in an article published in the Herald Sun that he's been training in Switzerland since losing out on a chance to make his third Olympic team last March. Thorpe, the 2000 and 2004 Olympic champion in the 400 free and 2004 winner of the 200 free, failed to make it out of the semifinals of the 100 and 200 freestyles at the Australian Olympic Trials in March. His comeback, which began in 2011, was marked with lower-than-expected results at several competitions.

Thorpe worked as a commentator for the BBC at the Olympics, and said watching the races continued to spark his motivation to appear once again on the Olympic stage. He is planning to return to Australia for a few months of training, but did not specify the team he'd work with there in the Herald Sun article.

Thorpe also said his immediate goal is earning a place on Australia's team for the 2013 long course world championships, which will be decided at the national championships at the end of April. His challengers for roster spots could include Olympic silver medalist James Magnussen and the third-fastest man in textile in the 100 free, James Roberts. With Eamon Sullivan recently announcing that he might continue in the sport but is considering dropping the 100 free, a spot in that event becomes available for relay purposes. In the 200 free, Thomas Fraser-Holmes, Tomasso D'Orsogna and Ryan Napoleon are the front-runners.

Full text of Herald Sun article

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x