Snow blankets northern Saudi region of Al-Jouf    Syrian Air to resume operation between Damascus and Jeddah on Nov. 7 after a hiatus of 8 years    21,370 illegal residents arrested in a week    Bronze Age town discovered in Khaybar Oasis    New mechanism for reviewing taxi fares via applications    Harris and Trump in dead heat as Election Day nears    Spain flooding one of many global extreme weather disasters: UN weather agency    EU braces for potential shifts in transatlantic relations ahead of US presidential election    Israeli army nearing end of ground offensive in southern Lebanon, reports indicate    Al Hilal sets record for longest unbeaten streak across all domestic competitions    Al Nassr and Al Hilal share points in intense Riyadh Derby draw    Riyadh's Sports Boulevard receives Platinum ActiveScore certifications    ImpaQ: Riyadh to host first Impact Makers Forum in December    Saudi Arabia ranks 12th globally in international visitor spending in 2023    Hidden sugars in Asia's baby food spark concerns    Saleh Al Shehri strike seals Al Ittihad's Sea Derby win over Al Ahli    HONOR unveils pre-order of the stunning HONOR MagicBook Art 14 Featuring an ultra-slim design, HONOR Eye Comfort Display and AI Cross-OS WorkStation    Derby Week makes its debut in the Roshn Saudi League    Teri Garr, Young Frankenstein and Tootsie star, dies at 79    Indonesia Days event celebrates cultural diversity at Al Suwaidi Park    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Thorpe announces return, targets London Olympics
Nick Mulvenney
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 03 - 02 - 2011

SYDNEY: Ian Thorpe, Australia's most successful Olympian, ended months of speculation by announcing his return to the pool with the intention of swimming at next year's London Games Wednesday.
The 28-year-old, nicknamed “Thorpedo”, quit competition in 2006 after a glittering career in which he captured nine Olympic medals – five gold, three silver and a bronze – at the 2000 and 2004 Games along with 11 world championship titles.
“I never thought I would be swimming in a competitive way again but I am glad that I am,” said Thorpe. “I have spent four years away from the pool and I needed those four years.”
Thorpe said he had registered for the drug-testing regime Wednesday as he was required to do nine months before beginning competition.
At the height of his career, Thorpe was the greatest middle distance freestyler of all time, he was never beaten in the 400 meters and only once over 200, but he said he would now target the relays and the 100 and 200 freestyle.
“I'm in the process of turning myself into a sprinter who can also maybe do a good 200 as well,” he said.
“I don't think in the short time that I have that I'll be able to go through enough training cycles to be able to prepare myself for the (400).”
Thorpe said he would, however, swim in an individual event in London if he qualified at Australia's Olympic trials in early 2012, but cautioned his compatriots to be realistic about what he could achieve.
“If I had an individual swim as well, I would take it,” he said. “But it still is baby steps ... just because I've had extraordinary results before, doesn't mean I will instantly be able to have them again.
“The level of expectation that's on me is enormous, it's probably only outweighed by my own expectations. I don't want to let people down and I don't want to let myself down.”
Intrusions into his private life had robbed him of his enjoyment of the sport four years ago, he said, and he asked that the media respect his privacy even if he would be training mostly in Abu Dhabi and Europe.
Thorpe said he made the decision to return in September as the London Games would be the last he would physically be able to contest, but did not rule out continuing after 2012.
“I went to see the swimming venue for the London Olympics and it's an extraordinary venue and I could taste it, which is something I hadn't felt about swimming for a very, very long time,” he said.
“It hasn't been something I've taken lightly.”
Admitting that he had asked everyone who knew to “lie through their teeth” to protect the secret, Thorpe said Australia head coach Leigh Nugent had been overseeing his training regime mostly by text message.
“To hear Ian publicly declare his intention to return to the pool today, with the aim of further Olympic success in London, is a massive boost for swimming in Australia and our aim of returning to the top of world swimming,” Nugent said.
“Now that he's confirmed his intention to compete, we can really increase his training and make good steps towards further success.
“We know he is an outstanding athlete, and with application and commitment he will make a success of this comeback.”
The high tech bodysuits Thorpe wore in his heyday have now been banned but he said his feeling had always been that they were not that significant a factor.
“I think a lot of it comes down to the performance of the athlete,” said Thorpe. “I used to swim in the smallest costumes you've ever seen and I've swum in the longest. I was able to break world records in both.”
Although a representative of a major corporate sponsor sat beside Thorpe during the news conference, the swimmer denied that financial matters had inspired his return.
“I am not motivated by money, if I was, I would never have stopped,” he said, adding: “I have had an almost flawless career and I've put this at risk.”


Clic here to read the story from its source.