Thorpe has no regrets over failed comeback bid
Source: AFP |
July 14, 2012, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AUSTRALIA'S five-time Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe said yesterday he has no regrets over his failed bid to swim at the London Olympics.
Thorpe, 29, launched a comeback in February last year after retiring in November 2006 citing a lack of motivation.
But he missed out on a place in the Australian swimming team after failing to qualify in the 100 meters and 200m freestyle events at the Olympic trials in Adelaide in March. Thorpe said he was unprepared for the shock of missing out on the London Games.
"I was in such a haze not realizing what had just happened in missing out on the Olympics," Thorpe told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
"I was asked the question: 'How does it feel that you are not going to the Olympics?' The reaction was: 'Thanks, I hadn't thought about it.' You see it hit me, that it's like I didn't plan for this."
Thorpe said now that he was over the initial disappointment of missing out on the squad he was still glad he made the return to the pool.
He is back in Europe and will continue to train right up to the start of the Games before taking two weeks off to attend in a media capacity.
Thorpe said his only regret was that he stopped swimming in the first place.
"When I stopped swimming I felt like I hated my sport at the time," Thorpe said. "I wasn't handling everything that came along with swimming and what it had become in my life. The biggest gift that has come out of this (comeback) is that I've returned to my sport and I love it."
Thorpe, 29, launched a comeback in February last year after retiring in November 2006 citing a lack of motivation.
But he missed out on a place in the Australian swimming team after failing to qualify in the 100 meters and 200m freestyle events at the Olympic trials in Adelaide in March. Thorpe said he was unprepared for the shock of missing out on the London Games.
"I was in such a haze not realizing what had just happened in missing out on the Olympics," Thorpe told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
"I was asked the question: 'How does it feel that you are not going to the Olympics?' The reaction was: 'Thanks, I hadn't thought about it.' You see it hit me, that it's like I didn't plan for this."
Thorpe said now that he was over the initial disappointment of missing out on the squad he was still glad he made the return to the pool.
He is back in Europe and will continue to train right up to the start of the Games before taking two weeks off to attend in a media capacity.
Thorpe said his only regret was that he stopped swimming in the first place.
"When I stopped swimming I felt like I hated my sport at the time," Thorpe said. "I wasn't handling everything that came along with swimming and what it had become in my life. The biggest gift that has come out of this (comeback) is that I've returned to my sport and I love it."
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