Asia-Pacific News
Australia in shock as Thorpedo fails to fire
Nov 8, 2011, 4:16 GMT
Sydney - Australia was in shock Tuesday after learning that swimming god Ian Thorpe had failed to qualify for a 100-metre freestyle final for the time since he was in short pants.
Racing in Beijing nine months into his comeback and five months before trials for the Olympic team, the man they call the Thorpedo finished fifth in his heat in 50.21 seconds.
It was the 15th-fastest mark and did not qualify him for a berth in the final of the event that fellow Australian Kyle Richardson won in 48.11.
Thorpe, 29, swam competitively in Singapore at the weekend for the first time in five years. The freestyle specialist entered the 100-metre medley and 100-metre butterfly and was an also-swam in both.
The five-time Olympic gold medallist is hoping to contest the 100-metre freestyle and 200-metre freestyle events in London.
His next chance to prove that his comeback is on track will be later this week at the next World Cup meeting in Tokyo.
Read more about Swimming Australia
COMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in Asia-Pacific
- 1. Chinese dissidents hail late democracy activist Fang Lizhi
- 2. China "worried" over planned North Korea rocket launch
- 3. Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi meets Karen rebels
- 4. Chinese schoolboy sells kidney to buy iPad, iPhone
- 5. Myanmar president invites Karen rebels to form party
Older Talkback
