Thorpe flops on his return to the pool
Source: Agencies |
November 5, 2011, Saturday
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Print Edition
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FIVE-TIME Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe finished seventh in the final of the 100-meter individual medley in a World Cup event in Singapore yesterday as he made his return to competition after five years out of the sport.
The 29-year-old Australian started well with the butterfly leg before losing ground on the backstroke in the second leg and finished a disappointing second-last in an event he rarely competed in prior to retirement.
South African Chad Le Clos won the race with a time of 53.06 seconds, with Thorpe three-and-a-half seconds back.
Australia's most successful Olympian will take part in the 100m butterfly today as he kicks off his quest to qualify for the 2012 Games in London.
Earlier, Thorpe declared himself relieved after finishing second in his heat in his comeback race after a five-year hiatus.
The 29-year-old Australian finished behind Omar Pinzon of Colombia in a time of 56.74 seconds, sixth best across the heats to qualify for the final.
"Yeah I'm happy, it is nice to get the first swim out of the way. I was a little bit nervous before it. I cant remember the race I don't know if it was any good or not," Thorpe told reporters.
"I came second, it was a heat swim and I am glad I have another opportunity for a final tonight.
"I'm sure when I watch the video there will be things I can work on. It is my first race and I'm glad it's out of the way."
Thorpe received loud cheers as he came out to the pool at the Singapore Sports School but cut a stern look in his black swim shorts as the nerves took hold of him.
"I was worse 10 minutes before you saw me and then when I walked out I was a little bit better but yeah I was nervous. I don't think there was a chance I wouldn't be nervous."
The towering Sydney-born swimmer was slow out of the blocks and always trailed his Colombia opponent who kept Australia's most successful Olympian at bay to win the heat with a time of 55.81 seconds.
"Exciting," was the 22-year-old Pinzon's verdict after winning the heat. "I have never raced against him, when he was retiring I was just starting to get into swimming seriously. Tonight is when it counts."
The 29-year-old Australian started well with the butterfly leg before losing ground on the backstroke in the second leg and finished a disappointing second-last in an event he rarely competed in prior to retirement.
South African Chad Le Clos won the race with a time of 53.06 seconds, with Thorpe three-and-a-half seconds back.
Australia's most successful Olympian will take part in the 100m butterfly today as he kicks off his quest to qualify for the 2012 Games in London.
Earlier, Thorpe declared himself relieved after finishing second in his heat in his comeback race after a five-year hiatus.
The 29-year-old Australian finished behind Omar Pinzon of Colombia in a time of 56.74 seconds, sixth best across the heats to qualify for the final.
"Yeah I'm happy, it is nice to get the first swim out of the way. I was a little bit nervous before it. I cant remember the race I don't know if it was any good or not," Thorpe told reporters.
"I came second, it was a heat swim and I am glad I have another opportunity for a final tonight.
"I'm sure when I watch the video there will be things I can work on. It is my first race and I'm glad it's out of the way."
Thorpe received loud cheers as he came out to the pool at the Singapore Sports School but cut a stern look in his black swim shorts as the nerves took hold of him.
"I was worse 10 minutes before you saw me and then when I walked out I was a little bit better but yeah I was nervous. I don't think there was a chance I wouldn't be nervous."
The towering Sydney-born swimmer was slow out of the blocks and always trailed his Colombia opponent who kept Australia's most successful Olympian at bay to win the heat with a time of 55.81 seconds.
"Exciting," was the 22-year-old Pinzon's verdict after winning the heat. "I have never raced against him, when he was retiring I was just starting to get into swimming seriously. Tonight is when it counts."
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