Ian Thorpe posts fastest comeback time in a bid to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics
Participation at the Olympic Games is dreamed by many, but only a handful of athletes are able to qualify for the mega event. Similar is the case with the five-time Olympic gold medallist, Ian Thorpe, who has returned to competitive swimming after five years of retirement and is struggling hard to earn his way to the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Thorpe, who retired in 2006, announced his comeback to competitive swimming in February, 2011. After his comeback, he has participated in a number of international events, where he showed continuous improvement in terms of timing, but failed to secure a medal in any of them.
From the time of his return, the comeback king has been facing critiques regarding his competence or incompetence to earn his way into the Australian squad for the 2012 London Olympics. Thorpe proclaimed that he would prepare for the 4*100m freestyle relay to make his way into the Australian team, as he has not much time to prepare for his main event, the 200m freestyle.
Thorpe captured gold medals of the 400m freestyle, 4*100m freestyle, and 4*200m freestyle relay at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Similarly, the Australian veteran proved his mettle by occupying gold medals in the events of 200m freestyle and 400m freestyle at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
His scintillating performance in the 100m freestyle discipline at the Luxembourg’s Euro-Meet stunned the aquatic crowd. Thorpe provoked expectations of his fans by posting a fastest comeback time in the 100m discipline.
Thorpe clocked a magnificent 50.76 seconds effort and finished sixth in the tournament behind Markus Deibler of Germany, who accomplished gold medal by posting an effort of 50.08 seconds.
His efforts aroused hopes of his fans that had started to doubt Thorpe’s competence to achieve his London qualification dream. Nevertheless, the 29-year-old has a long way to go, as world champion and Australian veteran, James Magnussen clocked a time of 47.63 seconds to capture gold medal of the 100m freestyle event at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai.
Furthermore, Thorpe is almost two seconds slower than the Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA) ‘A’ Time Qualification Standard of 48.82 seconds.
On this regard, the two-time Olympic gold medallist, Kieren Perkins, who is one of the strongest supporters of Thorpe’s return, advised him to travel less in order to accomplish his London dream.
'If it was me I wouldn't be travelling so much, I'd find somewhere and stay there and take advantage of the racing that's around you, because every time you spend 24 hours on a plane getting to somewhere you've got a couple of days to recover from jetlag,'' Perkins said.
Furthermore, Thorpe’s sports psychologist has disclosed that Thorpe has no intention to back off after the London Olympics, as it is just the beginning of his new career.
Not to mention that Thorpe has a better chance in earning his way into the 4*200m freestyle relay team, as Swimming Australia generally selects top six finishers in the event.
Nonetheless, Thorpe’s prime focus is making his way into the top four Australian 100m freestyle players, where he will face strong competition from Australian relay team-members, Magnussen, Matthew Abood, Matthew Targett and Eamon Sullivan.
With the Australian Selection trials for the 2012 Olympics being scheduled next month in Adelaide, Thorpe has just one month left to better his swim and post a time under FINA ‘A’ Qualification Standard.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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