Swim champion looks forward to competing with Park Tae-hwan


He is still one of the best swimmers in the world, but not many consider him a medal contender in London 2012.

Five-time Olympic gold medalist Ian Thorpe, however, said Wednesday that he has high hopes for his return to the Olympics.

The Australian swimming star left the pool in 2006, citing waning motivation. But the 29-year-old made a surprise comeback to the competitive swimming earlier this year.

“I stopped swimming because I needed some time away from my sport. I didn’t have privacy around the training or everyday life,” Thorpe said at the Australian Embassy in Seoul.

But Thorpe, who visited Korea for the first time to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic ties between Korea and Australia, said he suddenly decided to come back and train for London Olympics.

“I don’t know why, all of sudden I wanted to come back. I surprised myself to do this again,” he added.

But his five-year absence is apparent as he has made into just one final from seven races since his return.

Most recently, he failed to reach the final of the 100m freestyle at the Tokyo World Cup meeting on Saturday, then placed 26th in heats for the 100m butterfly on Sunday.

Asked whether he was disappointed at his performance, Thorpe beamed and said: “It’s a natural for anyone who has spent any time out of the pool. I would’ve liked to swim faster, a lot faster, but I had to understand that it needs some time.”

The Australian swimming icon described himself as a car that had if off for five years, admitting that he is having trouble finding his rhythm back.

“Turning a car that was off for five years, doesn’t matter how good the car, is still going to be difficult to start again,” he said.

“But the car is starting a little bit better now,” he added that he believes he has a chance in competing in London next year.

“Compared to how I used to swim in 2005 or 2006, I think I am technically better, but I have to do a lot more training with that technique,” he said.

Thorpe at his best won three gold medals in freestyle at 2000 Olympics and also snatched up two golds in 2004 Athens.

The freestyle specialist, however, acknowledged that things have changed significantly during his time away from the pool.

“I’ve seen incredible progression in swimming. What’s fantastic about the progression is that it is now all over the world.”

But he noted he was looking forward to competing with some of the new competitors, including 2008 Olympic medalist Park Tae-hwan of Korea.

“I will probably meet Park in London, but possibly race against him earlier than that in minor competition in Australia. I know he is training in Australia with a very good coach.”

But before that Thorpe needs to qualify for the London Olympics. He said he is now focused on training for the Australian Olympic qualifier in March 2012.

“I know it will be difficult given my time away from the pool. But this is where I found my motivation and I look forward to the challenge,” he said.

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldcorp.com)