Ian Thorpe reduces 18 kilos to attain fitness for the 2012 Olympics trials – Swimming News
Five-time Olympic champion, Ian Thorpe has reduced 18 kilos, trying to secure his spot in the Australian Swimming Squad to the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Thorpe, who retired from competitive swimming in 2006, had gained over 110 kilos after his retirement from the elite sport. The 28-year-old Thorpe then returned to aggressive swimming in February 2011, announcing that he will be seeking his qualification
into the Australian team by qualifying into the freestyle relay teams.
Ian earned three Olympic gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the events of 400m freestyle and the two freestyle relays. Then, the 400m freestyle champion excelled his performance in the 200m and the 400m freestyle events at the 2004 Athens Olympics,
clinching gold medals in both events.
Thorpe had been working hard to reduce his weight, as it is necessary for an elite swimmer to maintain his race weight. Thorpe was training with his Russian Coach, Gennadi Touretski to prepare himself for the 2012 London Olympics.
Gennadi was happy with the former freestyle champion’s astonishing struggle and said that the Australian is reaching his pace. Thorpe, who was training with his new mentor at his training base in Switzerland, returned to his homeland yesterday to join a
week training camp with his fellow Australian swimmers.
On his arrival to Sydney, Thorpe expressed that he will be focusing on the 100m and 200m freestyle events to confirm his spot in the London Olympics. With his comments, the Australian ended the rumours of competing in his main event, the 400m freestyle.
Thorpe said that he has less time to prepare, so he will be trying to achieve his qualification in the shorter distance freestyle swims.
The Australian will return to his training camp in Switzerland at the end of this week. In addition, he has joined the national 100m freestyle champion, James Magnussen at the training camp in Sydney.
Thorpe is very hopeful of making a splash at the next year Olympic trials and is the aware of the challenges, as he will be trying his best to qualify for the London Olympic Games.
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