Ian Thorpe aims for a bright return to the sport – Swimming News
The five-time Olympics gold medallist, Ian Thorpe said that he has started to feel like a swimmer once again. Thorpe, who has dropped some weight recently, said that he is comfortable with his in-pool performance but he realises the challenges he needs to
accomplish.
Thorpe retired from competitive swimming in 2006, as he failed to occupy the podium at any international meet after the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Then, he made a comeback to aggressive swimming in February 2011 and announced that he will try to qualify
for the 2012 London Olympics by occupying the title of the 100m freestyle.
Ian claimed three gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games in the events of 400m freestyle and the two freestyle relays. In 2004, he competed at the Athens Olympics and occupied two gold medals in the events of 200m freestyle and the 400m freestyle event.
The 28-year-old Thorpe gained some weight after his retirement but he is back in shape, as he is training hard with his Russian mentor, Gennadi Touretski at his training camp base in Switzerland.
Few days earlier, the former freestyle champion dropped his weight to 98 kilos and was happy to have reached his race weight once again. Ian looked in shape while talking to the media and stressed that he is comfortable with his progress, but there is still
room for a lot of improvement.
While addressing to a question Thorpe said, “Satisfied doesn't mean I'm there, by no means, I'm not at all. But I'm happy with where I'm at.”
The Sydney born Thorpe added, “I'm starting to look like a swimmer again.”
The Australian has publicised that his focus will remain at the 100m and the 200m freestyle for his qualification to the London Olympics. Thorpe will face the national 100m freestyle champion, James Magnussen, at the next year Olympics qualification trials.
In addition, the comeback king will soon be joining the squad of Australian elite swimmers, as he will resume his preparation for the 2012 Olympics at the Sydney Aquatic Centre.
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