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Thorpedo on target for third successive world title
Barcelona, July 20: Australian swimming star Ian Thorpe is aiming for an unprecedented third successive world title in the 400 metres freestyle on the opening day Sunday (July 20) of the world championships in Barcelona.
Barcelona, July 20: Australian swimming star Ian Thorpe is aiming for an unprecedented third successive world title in the 400 metres freestyle on the opening day Sunday (July 20) of the world championships in Barcelona.
Thorpe has achieved an array of milestone performances since he became the youngest-ever men's world champion in winning the 400 freestyle in Perth in 1998 at the age of 15.
He retained the 400 title in Fukuoka in 2001 on the way to becoming the first swimmer to win six gold medals in a single world championships. He also lowered the world record for the long-course 400 for the fifth time as he swept to a further six gold medals at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
Thorpe, who switched coaches last year, picked up four titles at the Australian national championships in Sydney in March -- a record sixth consecutive win in the 400, a time which disappointed him in the 200 freestyle, a shared victory with Ashley Callus in the 100 freestyle and a Commonwealth record in the 200 individual medley.
He won the Olympic 400 freestyle at the 2000 Games in his native Sydney by a fantastic margin of nearly three seconds -- so defeat in the Palau Sant Jordi indoor pool on Sunday would be a massive upset.
Thorpe could have a battle on his hands in Barcelona with team mate Grant Hackett, who chased him home in the nationals and touched less than a second behind the master.
Hackett took the silver behind Thorpe at the last two world championships -- an all too familiar occurrence for the Queenslander.
Sports equipment company Adidas on Saturday unveiled a new bodysuit line which Thorpe will use when he defends his 400 metres freestyle title. Adidas spent three years developing the Jetconcept full bodysuit, with Thorpe playing a role in the development, including wearing the outfit in a wind tunnel.
He will wear a plain version of the suit, black all over to cover the company's distinctive trademark stripes, because the Australian team is sponsored by rival company Speedo, which has its own bodysuit line.
Speaking about the suit, Thorpe said: "The thing that probably improves, you know, one one-hundredth of a second, you know, if not a little bit more, but in sport that's a big difference and that can be the difference between, you know, making a final, missing out on a final, winning a race, you know, or not winning a race and while technology is moving forwards throughout the world, it's wonderful to know that there's that kind of attention being brought to the sport as well."
The new suit reduces water drag by influencing the way it flows over the swimmer's body, increasing performance by up to three percent. Small 'riblets', integrated in the new suit, channel the water and shift the turbulence that occurs on the swimmer's body.
Thorpe takes about 20 minutes to put the suit on, but believes the result is worth the effort.
"The benefits outweigh, I guess, that little bit of exertion before competition, though I have to be prepared, I have to be warmed up a little bit earlier than what I would be otherwise so I have enough time to get the suit on, you know and that's just one thing you have to calculate into the programme and you know I really start racing, I start my preparation, before I actually walk out to swim. It's when I'm actually putting the suit on, that's when it starts and that's when, you know, I get in the right frame of mind to actually race."
Thorpe will be aiming for further gold on Sunday as Australia defend their men's 4x100 freestyle relay title, while the Australian women's squad hope to match them by winning their 4x100 freestyle relay.
Bureau Report
Thorpe could have a battle on his hands in Barcelona with team mate Grant Hackett, who chased him home in the nationals and touched less than a second behind the master.
Hackett took the silver behind Thorpe at the last two world championships -- an all too familiar occurrence for the Queenslander.
Sports equipment company Adidas on Saturday unveiled a new bodysuit line which Thorpe will use when he defends his 400 metres freestyle title. Adidas spent three years developing the Jetconcept full bodysuit, with Thorpe playing a role in the development, including wearing the outfit in a wind tunnel.
He will wear a plain version of the suit, black all over to cover the company's distinctive trademark stripes, because the Australian team is sponsored by rival company Speedo, which has its own bodysuit line.
Speaking about the suit, Thorpe said: "The thing that probably improves, you know, one one-hundredth of a second, you know, if not a little bit more, but in sport that's a big difference and that can be the difference between, you know, making a final, missing out on a final, winning a race, you know, or not winning a race and while technology is moving forwards throughout the world, it's wonderful to know that there's that kind of attention being brought to the sport as well."
The new suit reduces water drag by influencing the way it flows over the swimmer's body, increasing performance by up to three percent. Small 'riblets', integrated in the new suit, channel the water and shift the turbulence that occurs on the swimmer's body.
Thorpe takes about 20 minutes to put the suit on, but believes the result is worth the effort.
"The benefits outweigh, I guess, that little bit of exertion before competition, though I have to be prepared, I have to be warmed up a little bit earlier than what I would be otherwise so I have enough time to get the suit on, you know and that's just one thing you have to calculate into the programme and you know I really start racing, I start my preparation, before I actually walk out to swim. It's when I'm actually putting the suit on, that's when it starts and that's when, you know, I get in the right frame of mind to actually race."
Thorpe will be aiming for further gold on Sunday as Australia defend their men's 4x100 freestyle relay title, while the Australian women's squad hope to match them by winning their 4x100 freestyle relay.
Bureau Report