Michael Phelps eyes to compete with Ian Thorpe at the 2012 London Olympic Games – Swimming news
Fourteen-time Olympic Games gold medallist, Michael Phelps of USA, has expressed his aspiration of competing with Australian comeback king, Ian Thorpe, at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Phelps, who won record eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, lost the 200m freestyle to Thorpe during the 2004 Athens Olympics. Thorpe, who defeated Phelps in the 200m freestyle retired from competitive swimming in 2006, saying that he had
achieved everything he desired and now is the time to give importance to other things in his life.
The Australian champion then returned to competitive swimming in February 2011 and is struggling hard to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.
Thorpe has won five gold medals, three silver medals and one bronze medal in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, whereas, he intends to qualify for the 2012 Games, which will be his third Olympic appearance.
Phelps is very keen to compete with Thorpe, as he did not get a second chance to defeat the Australian. While expressing his desire to compete with Thorpe, Phelps said, “He and I have only raced once in the 200 free and for me to have that opportunity again
it's something I've been constantly looking forward to after '04. I've never had the chance and hopefully we get the chance over the next year.”
Phelps also praised Thorpe and said, “He is somebody who is super-talented and when he retired I didn't think it was true and I didn't think it was real. But obviously he found a hunger to want to come back and want to do it again and I think it's going
to be even better for the sport.”
The 26-year-old Phelps added that Thorpe has the potential to make a successful comeback and that he will be one of his strongest competitors in the next Olympics.
In addition, while talking about his participation at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, Phelps said that he will compete in the individual events of 200m Individual Medley, 200m freestyle, 100m butterfly and 200m butterfly.
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