FLASH Thorpe Loses First Major Race in 200m Free in Four Years

By Stephen J. Thomas

BRISBANE, Australia. July 6. IAN Thorpe’s first defeat in the 200 free in a major competition since Dutchman Pieter van den Hoogenband took the gold ahead of him in the Olympic final in Sydney almost four years ago was inflicted by Grant Hackett today at the Brisbane Grand Prix meet.

Thorpe indicated he was disappointed with his time but emphasized that he is still in full training. "I was a bit flat and I didn't swim very well … it happens," he told AAP. "I'm a bit disappointed with the time … but … I'm hard at training. If I let myself get down every time I had a bad swim in training I'd be an emotional wreck."

Also of interest in this race was the improved form of comebacker Michael Klim. The 26-year-old dual Olympic gold medalist (from both freestyle relays) led the field through the 150-mark (1:21.72), followed by Thorpe (1:21.83) and Hackett (1:22.36). However it was Hackett who had the unusual experience of going past world record-holder Thorpe in the final 50-meters to touch in 1:49.18 with Thorpe 1:49.27 and Todd Pearson, another member of the gold medal 800 free team in Sydney, taking third in 1:49.68.

Klim tired to finish fourth in a time of 1:49.75 but this was his best time for a couple of years and almost a second faster than his finals time at the Janet Evans meet a few weeks ago.

Hackett played down the victory and was quick to say what a tough competitor Thorpe was at the major meets. All this said, this must have been a real confidence booster for the 24-year-old Hackett, fashioning a rare win over the man who normally relegates him to the silver medal.

Klim posted another positive sign in the evening session when he had an upset win in the 100 fly over current Aussie champ Geoff Huegill 53.49 to 54.18. The former world record-holder, Klim has avoided swimming fly after a long recovery from back and shoulder surgeries since 2001.

Leisel Jones, the top ranked swimmer in the world this year over 100 and 200 breaststroke, raced to another sensational time for an untapered swimmer in the morning session of the second day of the Grand Prix meet in Brisbane. Jones had already clocked the fastest time thus far in ’04 in the two-lap race last night then today split 1:10.41 to touch in a very hot 2:24.88. Only Jones has been faster this year: her 2:23.72 at the Olympic trials in March.

Then there was Petria Thomas, another veteran who has experienced her share of shoulder surgeries – three at last count. Thomas had an impressive double in the fly events clocking a very fast 58.14 in the morning session and very solid 2:09.43 in the evening. Thomas has the ’04 world leading times in both 100-200 events – 57.36 and 2:06.01.

Elka Graham showed some improved form, taking the 200-400 double today. Graham had a unimpressive Mare Nostrum tour and then spent some time in California training with friend and rival Lindsay Benko last month. Graham clocked 2:00.29 to beat Petria Thomas (2:00.98) in the 200 free. Thomas had recently relinquished her individual spot in this event in Athens to Graham in order to concentrate on the fly events. In the 400 free, Graham (4:15.73) edged out Linda Mackenzie (4:15.86).

Giaan Rooney recorded a very solid 1:02.86 in the 100 backstroke while Melissa Morgan won the 200 backstroke in 2:15.39.

Matt Welsh swam a swift 100 back, clocking 54.96, and then went 2:01.56 in the four-lap race. Welsh currently has the world leading time for the two-lap race – 53.78.

Olympic rookie Adam Lucas took the double in the medley events edging out his more experienced teammate Justin Norris in the 200IM (2:05.18 to 2:05.22) then easily accounting for Travis Nederpelt in the 400IM 4:25.92).

Regan Harrison easily accounted for Jim Piper in the breaststroke double clocking 1:03.99 and 2:16.72.

In the one-lap freestyle, Aussie record-holder Brett Hawke clocked 22.78 to beat Ian Thorpe, 23.00, while in the women’s sprint, Michelle Engelsman continued her good form touching in 25.65 to beat Alice Mills 25.97.

Brooke Hanson took out the 200IM in 2:14.77 – an event she had relinquished recently to concentrate on the breaststroke double – from Lara Carroll (2:15.79) the teammate who replaced her, who just edged out World Champs silver medalist Alice Mills (2:15.82).

Ian Thorpe after winning 200 free Oly Trials '04

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