Mark Spitz advises Ian Thorpe to focus on 2012 London Olympics qualification instead of medals
American legendary coach and former swimmer, Mark Spitz, has advised Australian comeback king, Ian Thorpe to concentrate more to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics rather than dreaming of winning medals.
Ian Thorpe, Australian swimming star, is the former world record holder and a two-time Olympic gold medallist for the events of 200m and 400m freestyle. Thorpe retired in 2006 from the sport and the Aussie has justified his return by saying that he has got
everything he wished for but now, he expresses hope to win medals at the 2012 London Olympics.
According to the great swimming coach of USA, Mark Spitz, Thorpe is unlikely to reach the podium instead, he should be worried about qualifying for the mega event. The 28-year-old Thorpe won a total of 11 World Championship medals and improved 13 swimming
records before his retirement from the sport in 2006.
The former champion has now the desire to get involved in competitive swimming and his documents have been registered to FINA, the international sports governing body. Moreover, he started his training in Abu Dhabi last month and has now signed a deal with
the great Russian coach, Gennadi Touretski, who will prepare Thorpe for the upcoming Olympics.
Spitz warned the Australian swimming star and said, “His return is great news for him, for his sponsors, for Australia and for swimming. But he still has much hard work ahead of him. For the moment he should focus on the process which could take him to London,
enjoy the journey instead of thinking of the goal, because it is still too early to know if he can win medals.”
Spitz uttered some bitter comments while addressing Thorpe that he was the champion when full length body suits were not banned, but now things have changed and these suits are not in use anymore. Moreover, he articulated that hi-tech swimming suits are
for those swimmers who are not good enough at their timings and they cannot convert a non-champion swimmer to a great athlete.
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