Thorpe's Olympic comeback in doubt

LONDON: Ian Thorpe's much-hyped comeback appears to be in serious trouble after he suffered another heavy beating in the pool just three months before the Olympic selection trials in Adelaide.

Australia's most successful Olympian clocked a disappointing time of 50.84 seconds to finish 16th overall in the 100 metres in his first longcourse race in nearly six years.

Thorpe, the bronze medallist in the event at the 2004 Athens Games, must have been looking at the very least to crack the 50-second mark at the Italian Winter Open in Riccione. However, his 100m performance has again raised doubts about whether he is capable of returning to his best, let alone competing with current stars such as James Magnussen.

 

''It was hard but I knew that it would have been. It's important that I compete,'' Thorpe said.
The 100m was won by Italian Luca Dotto (48.78) ahead of 2007 co-world champion Filippo Magnini (48.82). Thorpe's best time of 48.56 was set finishing third at the Athens Games seven years ago. Australia enjoys great depth in the 100m, with quality sprinters aside from the quartet that won the 4x100m relay at this year's world titles. Thorpe, who broke his last world record more than a decade ago, has been in a race against time for Olympic selection after announcing his comeback in February.

 

Sydney Morning Herald