Ian News!
Thorpe reunited with Menzies.
Ian Thorpe is to resume training with his former coach Tracey Menzies, according to Australia's national swimming supremo Alan Thompson. The 23-year-old will link up with Menzies at the end of the month and will be looking to bounce back after a lacklustre 2006 season.
The five-time Olympic champion had been training in Los Angeles to escape the star status accorded to him in Australia, but suffered injuries and a loss of fitness.
Thorpe admitted he put on weight and even considering quitting the sport, but instead took a break from competition.
However, Thompson said he would race at December's world championship trials in Brisbane, although he would be some way below his peak.
Former Olympic champion Alexander Popov said Thorpe could come back better than ever.
"He needed to make a break, to stop and relax. But I know he can come back and he will win. He is too good, he has already done so much," said the Russian.
"At his age, he has the experience to take anybody on, no matter how much time he has been out for."
[source: Eurosport, October 3, 2006]
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Thorpedo admits he's struggling.
Australia's five-times Olympic champion Ian Thorpe says he is struggling to come to terms with his return to Australia after three months in Los Angeles.
An extremely high profile star in Australia, Thorpe fled Sydney and relocated to the Hollywood Hills to escape the prying media and concentrate on getting his swimming career back on track.
But he has had just as much difficulty in the US and since his admission in August that he was a few kilograms overweight and considering retiring from the sport, speculation has been high, forcing him to switch coaches and venues to train in privacy.
Thorpe returned to Sydney on the weekend and completed his first training session back with coach Tracey Menzies less than 24 hours later.
Thorpe has now admitted, however, that he is having a tough time re-adapting to the Australian conditions.
"I have just got back and am getting used to it again," Thorpe said.
"I started training here, it's hard, it's full on. I don't know what time zone I'm in. I'm on LA time instead of Sydney time."
Thorpe has not raced at a major international meet since the 2004 Olympics in Athens - when he won Gold medals in 200m and 400m Freestyle, a Silver medal in the 2x400m Freestyle relay and a Bronze 100m Freestyle.
This year he has been blighted by injuries missing the Commonwealth Games with glandular fever and then breaking a hand in April which further delayed his comeback to competition.
Now Thorpe is preparing for an international comeback at December's World Championship selection trials in Brisbane and will have to swim at least a couple of events before then.
"We've got the world championsip trials in December so he'll have to turn up and race there for his eligibility for the world championships," Menzies told Sydney radio station 2KY on Monday.
"He'll have to do a few meets before then just to get some times under his belt for qualification."
[source: Eurosport, October 11, 2006]
Ian Thorpe is to resume training with his former coach Tracey Menzies, according to Australia's national swimming supremo Alan Thompson. The 23-year-old will link up with Menzies at the end of the month and will be looking to bounce back after a lacklustre 2006 season.
The five-time Olympic champion had been training in Los Angeles to escape the star status accorded to him in Australia, but suffered injuries and a loss of fitness.
Thorpe admitted he put on weight and even considering quitting the sport, but instead took a break from competition.
However, Thompson said he would race at December's world championship trials in Brisbane, although he would be some way below his peak.
Former Olympic champion Alexander Popov said Thorpe could come back better than ever.
"He needed to make a break, to stop and relax. But I know he can come back and he will win. He is too good, he has already done so much," said the Russian.
"At his age, he has the experience to take anybody on, no matter how much time he has been out for."
[source: Eurosport, October 3, 2006]
---
Thorpedo admits he's struggling.
Australia's five-times Olympic champion Ian Thorpe says he is struggling to come to terms with his return to Australia after three months in Los Angeles.
An extremely high profile star in Australia, Thorpe fled Sydney and relocated to the Hollywood Hills to escape the prying media and concentrate on getting his swimming career back on track.
But he has had just as much difficulty in the US and since his admission in August that he was a few kilograms overweight and considering retiring from the sport, speculation has been high, forcing him to switch coaches and venues to train in privacy.
Thorpe returned to Sydney on the weekend and completed his first training session back with coach Tracey Menzies less than 24 hours later.
Thorpe has now admitted, however, that he is having a tough time re-adapting to the Australian conditions.
"I have just got back and am getting used to it again," Thorpe said.
"I started training here, it's hard, it's full on. I don't know what time zone I'm in. I'm on LA time instead of Sydney time."
Thorpe has not raced at a major international meet since the 2004 Olympics in Athens - when he won Gold medals in 200m and 400m Freestyle, a Silver medal in the 2x400m Freestyle relay and a Bronze 100m Freestyle.
This year he has been blighted by injuries missing the Commonwealth Games with glandular fever and then breaking a hand in April which further delayed his comeback to competition.
Now Thorpe is preparing for an international comeback at December's World Championship selection trials in Brisbane and will have to swim at least a couple of events before then.
"We've got the world championsip trials in December so he'll have to turn up and race there for his eligibility for the world championships," Menzies told Sydney radio station 2KY on Monday.
"He'll have to do a few meets before then just to get some times under his belt for qualification."
[source: Eurosport, October 11, 2006]