Thorpe Back in Training Under Menzies

SYDNEY, October 10. ACCORDING to reports out of Australia, Ian Thorpe wasted little time returning to training upon his return to his homeland following a three-month stay in the United States. The five-time Olympic gold medalist, who was living in Los Angeles and trying to find time away from the spotlight, hopped back in the water under the watch of his coach, Tracey Menzies.

Out of international action since the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Thorpe has targeted the Australian World Championship Trials, slated for Brisbane in December, as his next major meet. Thorpe is expected to race the 100 and 200 freestyles. It is unlikely that he will contest the 400 free, his signature discipline and the event in which he is the two-time defending Olympic champ.

Thorpe has battled illness and a broken hand during the year and his dedication to training has been questioned. But, Thorpe is one of the most gifted swimmers in history and returning to past form is very much a possibility. It has not yet been determined which meets will serve as tuneup competitions for the World Champs Trials. Thorpe is focused long-term on the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

"I'll just have to assess in the next couple of weeks really where we're at and what we need to do,” Menzies said in an article in The Australian. "But the big picture's Beijing so that's what we're working towards and that's where we've got to have the result."

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