Ian Thorpe’s Shadow Inspires New Generation Of Olympians

By Ian Hanson, Swimming World's Australian Correspondent

GOLD COAST, Australia, January 15. There was a time when legendary swim coach Don Talbot admitted that the creation of a "Dolphins dynasty" in men's swimming between 1997 and 2004 robbed Australia of a generation of swimmers.

Talbot had been brought back from Canada in 1989 to re-mould the Australian Swim Team and up until his retirement in 2001 he ticked many boxes, ultimately leaving the Aussies on top of the swimming tree.

But was there a price for the treasure hunt that netted Australia a tonne of gold?

Aspiring youngsters could see no passage through the wake left by Ian Thorpe, Grant Hackett, Michael Klim, Chris Fydler, Ashley Callus, Todd Pearson, Bill Kirby, Geoff Huegill and Matt Welsh.

A super group who had followed the likes of Kieren Perkins, Daniel Kowalski and Glen Housman in what was a golden era for the Australian Swim Team.

There was a resurgence in 2008 with Australia, under Alan Thompson's guidance won medals in every men's and women's relay – signs that the depth of talent had returned.

And as the countdown hots up for the 2012 Olympic Swim Trials in Adelaide in March, another generation of men has the opportunity to make a name for themselves, to pick up the pieces and make a name for themselves.

They have the chance to roll up their sleeves and have a crack at a place in one of the most celebrated teams in Olympic sports.

But little did they think that the shadow of "the Thorpedo" would again loom large in their quest for their own slice of Olympic history – to join the list of Olympians on the coveted Australian Swim Team.

Thorpe's comeback continued over the weekend at the Victorian Championships at the Melbourne Sports And Aquatic Centre and to the naked eye the "old Thorpey" still looks a way off.

He failed to make the final of the 100m freestyle, finishing 13th in the heats – clocking 51.05 before finishing fifth in the 200m freestyle in 1:50.79 – fading over the final 50m with the sixth slowest final lap split.

Many hanging on the hope that "the big fella" will somehow, somewhere find the vital four seconds that will make him competitive again.

The five-time Olympic gold medallist and 2001 and 2003 FINA World Champion and 2004 Olympic champion over the distance looked sluggish and low in the water, admitting after the race: ""Technique wise I wasn't very good tonight. I was a little bit rushed."

And you get the impression that the youngsters he has inspired but who have not been intimidated by the enormous figure who had once been the dominant figure in world swimming, will continue tand up and be counted.

Ahead of Thorpe was 2010 World Championship Team member Jarrod Killey, the former Newcastle-AIS based surf and open water swimmer, who is very much on the improve with his personal best winning time of 1:48.28.

Further improvement and into the 1:47s will see him in the Olympic Trials final and very much in the mix for London.

Killey, at 20, is just one of the 2012 generation excited to be swimming alongside Australia's greatest ever Olympian who admits he is not getting carried away and knows he has a lot to do between now and the Trials.

Following Killey into the wall last night was 25-year-old Beijing Olympian Nick Ffrost, 17-year-old whiz kid Cameron McEvoy, who has been chipping away at Thorpe's 100m freestyle age records over the last 12 months and 19-year-old emerging youngster Justin James.

With the pending retirement of dual Olympian Patrick Murphy, Ffrost could well go into the Trials as the last man standing from the 2008 Olympic bronze medal winning 4x200m freestyle relay final team following the retirement of Grant Hackett and Grant Brits.

Murphy is understood to have finally succumbed to a succession of injuries and illnesses in his bid for a third Olympic team under the direction of Denis Cotterell at Miami and his departure will leave another hole in the depth of the 200m ranks.

Throw in the question mark over the fitness of injured 2008 Olympian Kenrick Monk and there could be further opportunity for other youngsters aspiring to make their first Olympic team in the 200m and the 4x200m relay – swimmers like Thomas Fraser-Holmes, Ryan Napoleon, Tommaso D'Orsogna, Ned McKendry, Luke Kerswell and David McKeon.

After his sluggish showings at the Victorian championships, it now remains to be seen whether Thorpe has enough time to lead this group into London and maintain the recent success of the Australian 4x200m freestyle teams that won gold in Sydney, silver in Athens and bronze in Beijing.

One thing is certain – Thorpe's presence at the Trials will ensure that who ever National Head Coach Leigh Nugent has in his 4x200m freestyle relay team – Thorpie will have kept them all honest, getting the best out of the new generation.

Even if it means leaving them to stand up and take on the might of the USA, Japan, France, Italy, China, Great Britain and Germany all by themselves.

Name*

Email*

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