Swimming - Thorpedo come back dream pretty much busted
Discussion
http://www.supersport.com/aquatics/article.aspx?Id...
Thats that I reckon. Just not fit enough to race over 200m Freestyle and even though he still has the 100m Freestyle to come (and his last chance to make the team either in the individual or as part of the relay) I reckon its over. He wont have the out right sprint pace to get where he needs (top 2 finish with either FINA A time or top 16 time, or top 6 to make the relay).
He might squeak into the relay, but to be honest I think that would pretty embarrasing for him. Better to let some young blood have the exprience instead.
Thorpe used to hold the WR on the 200 at 1.44.06 (though it was broken by german, Paul Biederman in one of those stupid suits) but clocked a 1.49.91 in the finals at Aussie trials. Must be gutting to be still 5, nearly 6, seconds off your best.
Its over.
Thats that I reckon. Just not fit enough to race over 200m Freestyle and even though he still has the 100m Freestyle to come (and his last chance to make the team either in the individual or as part of the relay) I reckon its over. He wont have the out right sprint pace to get where he needs (top 2 finish with either FINA A time or top 16 time, or top 6 to make the relay).
He might squeak into the relay, but to be honest I think that would pretty embarrasing for him. Better to let some young blood have the exprience instead.
Thorpe used to hold the WR on the 200 at 1.44.06 (though it was broken by german, Paul Biederman in one of those stupid suits) but clocked a 1.49.91 in the finals at Aussie trials. Must be gutting to be still 5, nearly 6, seconds off your best.
Its over.
I think the drives there. He just didn't start early enough. Takes ages and requires a lot of effort to become swim fit (I know I've been there). Even though he kept it quiet for a while he was training to see if a comeback was possible. Him and his coach decided it was and in hindsight that seems to have been a miscalculation.
Also he's a big guy. Lot of energy required to haul himself up and down the pool. That is draining. I'm sure that is one of the reasons he quit in the first place.
Also he's a big guy. Lot of energy required to haul himself up and down the pool. That is draining. I'm sure that is one of the reasons he quit in the first place.
Just for thought
Thorpe would of come 7th at our own trials. Robbie Renwick and Ross davenport both beat his time (1.47 and 1.48) and they are the only two also doing the 100 free.
Bearing in mind they were faster over the 200. No one from the English camp even made the Fina A time for the 100 freestyle and that's generally a slower time than a top 16. He's got his work cut out that's for sure.
Thorpe would of come 7th at our own trials. Robbie Renwick and Ross davenport both beat his time (1.47 and 1.48) and they are the only two also doing the 100 free.
Bearing in mind they were faster over the 200. No one from the English camp even made the Fina A time for the 100 freestyle and that's generally a slower time than a top 16. He's got his work cut out that's for sure.
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Friday 16th March 20:01
Highway Star said:
It was about 21st for Thorpe in the 100 in the end wasn't it? But he reckons he'll keep going apparently.
At least he'll be there warming the sofa for the Beeb at the Olympics, I thought he was very good as a pundit at last year's world's.
Yeah 21stAt least he'll be there warming the sofa for the Beeb at the Olympics, I thought he was very good as a pundit at last year's world's.
Didn't even make the semi's. I knew he wouldn't mind, just doesn't have that raw sprint pace in him and I don't think he ever really has. He's been quick over the 100m of course (3rd in the olympics at one point) but he is more middle distance. sprinters are a special breed. Even Phelps, for all his greatness isn't the man over 100m free, there are or were people like Lezak in the US team who could go faster and on paper in Beijing the americans looked beaten by the french (Alain Bernard is simply massive, his shoulders look like they would destroy a small country)... they didn't count on america team spirit though. That, I am sure, is the only thing that carried Lezak past Bernard on the last leg.
Thorpe's best chance was the 200m, he didn't make it. He had very slim chance of making the 100. He's going to continue though, which I think is right. He's started so he has to finish and I am sure he will be enjoying the challenge again. After all the reason he quit was because he'd won and done what he wanted having come into the world at 15 years old and becoming world champion. He'd achieved it all by early 20's. Now he's got that to do all over again.
Hopefully he will go until the common wealths. I think that would be good. There has been talk, by his coaches no less, that 2016 Olympics should be a target. I don't think thats going to happen though. 4 more years? He'll be too old, there'll be too many young guns about who will be able to thrash him.
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