Sydney, Aug 13: Australian swimming Marvel Ian Thorpe said today he would step up his training for the Athens Olympic Games after a year out. The 200m-400m-800m freestyle world record-holder said he was happy with his performance at last month's Barcelona World Championships, where he won three golds, a silver and a bronze, to take his career world title medal tally to 11.

Thorpe said he was refreshed after a couple of weeks' break and was looking forward to hitting the pool. Thorpe predicted great things ahead for American swim sensation Michael Phelps after his phenomenal showing at the World Championships.

"He has achieved a lot and I think that there is a lot more he will achieve."

Bureau Report