Dubai: Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe will train in the UAE following yesterday's announcement that he will return to the sport in time for next year's London Games.
The five-time Olympic gold medallist said at a press conference in Sydney yesterday that the bulk of his training would take place in Abu Dhabi and Europe.
"Ian Thorpe is very much back," announced John Borghetti of sponsor Virgin Blue while opening the joint press conference with Thorpe yesterday.
"He registered this morning with the international drug testing register and he's planning to win lots of gold at the 2012 Olympics," Borghetti added.
Thorpe retired from swimming in November 2006 aged 24 after spending a decade in the sport, following a long period of illness and introspection.
However, he had hinted to Gulf News during a visit to Dubai last year that he was considering a comeback. Speaking on the sidelines of the SportAccord Convention held here in April, Thorpe had shown an interest in returning to the pool provided he felt there was adequate "fire in the belly".
"I would return to the international stage if there is enough fire in the belly to motivate me to compete at this level," Thorpe had told Gulf News during an interview at The Atlantis last April.
And yesterday, he admitted he was returning as a "slightly more mature" person and said he was being driven by a desire "to be able to perform again", not the lure of sponsorship money.
Thorpe disclosed that he decided to return to the sport in September and started training on the quiet, using eight different pools to dodge suspicion. But a tour of the "extraordinary" Olympic swimming venue in London sealed his decision, Thorpe said.
Main focus
He said his focus would be on swimming the relay for Australia — an event in which he famously broke the American stranglehold and bagged gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympics — over both 100 and 200 metres.
Thorpe laid out a plan for his comeback with sports psychologist Deirdre Anderson, who helped counsel him through his 2006 retirement, and was secretly trained via text message by Australia's team coach Leigh Nugent.
Thorpe was so determined to minimise the pressure on himself he didn't even tell his family until just a few weeks ago. "It hasn't been something that I have taken lightly, making a decision to return to competitive swimming," Thorpe said at the press conference.
"I'm very glad that I will be swimming competitive again. I'm glad I spent four years away from the pool. I needed those four years," added the 28-year-old.
Coach Leigh Nugent said Thorpe would have to wait nine months before he could be cleared by doping authorities to compete, meaning he would have just five months to hone himself against other swimmers before the Olympic trials next March. Thorpe's first overseas tournament is likely to be a Fina World Cup event in November.
Thorpe said he planned to do most of his training in Abu Dhabi and Europe ahead of the London Olympic trials and acknowledged there is a long road ahead.
"It's big, it's enormous, but I'm prepared," he said.
Factfile
- Born: October 13, 1982
- Olympic medal tally: Five gold, three silver, one bronze.
- Commonwealth medal tally: 10 gold, one silver.
- World championship medal tally: 11 gold, one silver, one bronze.
- World records: Current holder of the 400m freestyle long course Olympic record. Set 13 individual long course world records in his career.
