American keen to renew Thorpe rivalry
Source: Agencies |
July 16, 2011, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MICHAEL Phelps was still getting over his mild mid-career slump when he heard about Ian Thorpe's planned comeback for the London 2012 Olympics.
The 14-time Olympic gold medalist freely admits he hates to lose, so news of the Australian's return couldn't have come as any better motivation for training.
Thorpe, who dominated swimming immediately before Phelps took the spotlight and raised to unprecedented levels, beat him in their only serious contest over the 200-meter freestyle; the 2004 Olympic final which has been dubbed the "race of the century."
"He and I only raced once over the 200 free. Having the opportunity to race somebody like him again - maybe in the 200 freestyle - I think will be super fun," Phelps said. "I've never had the chance and hopefully we get the chance over the next year."
Thorpe won that 200 final in Athens, with Dutch swimmer Pieter van den Hoogenband second and Phelps third.
But that was well before Phelps established himself as the world's greatest swimmer.
The man dubbed Thorpedo quit swimming in 2006, two years after his last major meet and prematurely ending a career that five Olympic gold medals, 11 world titles and 13 world records.
He was working in Beijing as an analyst when he publicly doubted if it was possible for Phelps' to break the record haul of seven gold medals Mark Spitz won at the 1972 Olympics. After Phelps won his eighth, Thorpe was among the first to offer his congratulations.
"When he retired I didn't think it was true and I didn't think it was real," Phelps said. "But he found a hunger to want to come back and want to do it again. I'm excited. Having somebody like him back in the sport is going to be a lot more exciting.
"It's amazing to have Thorpie back. He's the kind of person who if he wants to do something he's going to make sure he will get it done."
The 14-time Olympic gold medalist freely admits he hates to lose, so news of the Australian's return couldn't have come as any better motivation for training.
Thorpe, who dominated swimming immediately before Phelps took the spotlight and raised to unprecedented levels, beat him in their only serious contest over the 200-meter freestyle; the 2004 Olympic final which has been dubbed the "race of the century."
"He and I only raced once over the 200 free. Having the opportunity to race somebody like him again - maybe in the 200 freestyle - I think will be super fun," Phelps said. "I've never had the chance and hopefully we get the chance over the next year."
Thorpe won that 200 final in Athens, with Dutch swimmer Pieter van den Hoogenband second and Phelps third.
But that was well before Phelps established himself as the world's greatest swimmer.
The man dubbed Thorpedo quit swimming in 2006, two years after his last major meet and prematurely ending a career that five Olympic gold medals, 11 world titles and 13 world records.
He was working in Beijing as an analyst when he publicly doubted if it was possible for Phelps' to break the record haul of seven gold medals Mark Spitz won at the 1972 Olympics. After Phelps won his eighth, Thorpe was among the first to offer his congratulations.
"When he retired I didn't think it was true and I didn't think it was real," Phelps said. "But he found a hunger to want to come back and want to do it again. I'm excited. Having somebody like him back in the sport is going to be a lot more exciting.
"It's amazing to have Thorpie back. He's the kind of person who if he wants to do something he's going to make sure he will get it done."
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