LONDON (AP) — Ian Thorpe says he has come to grips with his failure to qualify for the Olympics in a comeback from retirement.
The Australian great is still at the games working for British TV and representing his sponsor, and had quite a candid take Thursday on his performance at the Australian trials four months ago.
The five-time Olympic champion says, “Frankly, I didn’t perform well enough to make the team. … I missed out because people were swimming faster than me. I would have loved to be racing, but I’m here in a different capacity.”
Thorpe reiterated that he will continue swimming after the games. He also labeled Australian sprinter James Magnussen “the most impressive swimmer I’ve seen over the last decade that’s new to the sport.”
