Let’s face it, Ian Thorpe’s comeback will be a lot tougher than Shane Warne’s. Last night in Singapore, Thorpe blew away some of the six years of non-competitive cobwebs in the final of the 100m individual medley.
The swim wasn’t flash, but the IM isn’t Thorpe’s forte either.
He finished a distant seventh, 3.27 seconds adrift of South African Chad Le Clos’ 53.06.
To put that time in perspective, American superfish Michael Phelps clocked 51.65 in Berlin last week, while the world record of 50.76 was set by Slovenian Peter Mankoc in 2009.
There are two more low-key world cup meets in Beijing and Tokyo where more cobwebs will be blown away.
But at least Singapore was a start for the 29-year-old Thorpe, nine months after he announced a comeback, with nine months to go to his ultimate target – London 2012.
Meanwhile, the Melbourne Stars are trumpeting Warne’s comeback to Australian cricket with the inaugural Big Bash League. But has Warne ever really retired?
His last Test match was the SCG in January 2007, his last ODI at the MCG in January 2005, his last county cricket appearance for Hampshire was in September 2007, but he’s been skippering the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL since inception.
At 42, Warne’s arguably fitter than he’s ever been, and there’s no argument he’s still a genius with the ball in his hand.
And he’d be the first to admit the nets are a far more appealing than following the black line at the bottom of the pool for hours on end training like Thorpe.
That would bore Warne to death, as it would most sportsmen. Making swimmers a special breed, with Ian Thorpe among the very best.
He’ll be 30 just after the London Olympics in July-August, well short of gold medalists – freestyler Jason Lezak who will be 35, and breaststroker Ed Moses, who will be 32 – the two oldest men in American Olympics swimming history.
While Warne at 42 could well feel like a spring chick compared to some cricketers who were still playing Tests like Englishman Wilfred Rhodes who retired as the oldest at 52 years and 165 days in 1930, Australian Bert Ironmonger 50 years 327 days in 1933, the infamous Englishman WG Grace 50-320 in 1899, and Jack Hobbs who was 47 and 249 days in 1930.
Maybe Ian Thorpe and Shane Warne can also draw on the incredible longevity of Australian Ken Rosewall, and American Kelly Slater.
* Rosewall won his first Australian Slam title at 19, and his fourth at 38.
* Won his first French at 19, and his second at 34.
* Reached his first Wimbledon final at 20, and his fourth at 40.
* And won his first US at 22, and his second at 36.
Or Slater, who has just clinched his 11th world surfing title at 39 and 255 days.
In his spare time he plays golf off a 3 handicap, and strums a mean guitar.
But by taming the big waves around the world, Slater became the youngest at 20 to be world champion, and now nearly 40, the oldest.
“And I fully intend to be a contender when I’m 50,” was Slater’s prediction.
The moral of this story, don’t ever underestimate the seniors in any sport.
Tom Callaghan
Guest
janeswm mate! You were very bullish about Australia's 2011 in your last post! What a 2011 it has been for Australian cricket! It has been 'bookended' by two almighty hidings, hasn't it? By england-'the mighty, mighty, England'-in January and by South Africa in November! what a year, eh? an annus horribiles?
Tom Callaghan
Guest
Jamesswm I was thinking of the Ashes series,Australia's los to Ireland in the RWC, Little Lauren Mitchell's failure to win a medal at world gymnastics champs, Australian athletes failure to win more than three medals at the Daegu world athletics championships, and Australia lagging behind Britain in recent world gym, boxing, swimming,Athletics, and rowing world champs. Stsur and Evans offer some crumbs of comfort. Casey Stoner? Who he? What he do?
jameswm
Guest
You're right, Tom. The exploits of Cadel Evans, Sam Stosur, James Magnusson, Sally Pearson and even Casey Stoner have made 2011 a real year to forget for Australian sport.
Tom Callaghan
Guest
David mate, You could have mentioned the humiliation of Australian 'Greats' such as Meares and Perkins at Cycling world cup and Katzidis in the boxing in Glasgow. Another weekend, another instalment in Australia's sporting decline. At least an antipodean referee helped australia win the rugby league game at Wembley
mattamkII
Guest
the guy is a draw card that's for sure. I couldn't get tickets at all...sold out Saturday weeks ago. In Singapore, a country where the average person know nothing about any sport at all.
Droppa
Guest
So what if he fails,at least he'a having a go. he wants it & he's going for it ,even if he cant make it he's still going to try. If you ask me the attitude of if your not going to win then dont try is a piss poor one. Good on Thorpe for hav'n a go.
roarr
Guest
I wonder if this little meet was apart of a master plan by thorpe and his team. Lower the public's expectations, dont give away your hand too early...and then bam gold in the 400m freestyle at london. I hope so anyway...
Spiro Zavos
Expert
David's point is a good one. Age has become relative in the era of mass professional sport. 30 in the new 26 for professional athletes. There is a correlation I believe between professional sport and the age that players can carry on at a high peak. The professional athlete, unlike the amateur, has virtually the whole day, every day to build up for his/hers performances. Brad Thorn, was 3 years older than the referee Craig Joubert, in the recent Rugby World Cup final. So in theory there is no reason why Ian Thorpe shouldn't be able to make an inspiring and successful comeback - on grounds of age. The proviso I would make in all of this is that he has been out of swimming for some years, and this could be the telling factor. The examples of seniors performing strongly, including my example of Brad Thorn, were of athletes who continued to play on to a relatively (in sporting terms) old age. Thorpe is definetely making a comeback the hard way. Those years of putting on the extra kilos (up to 30kgs at time) may be the real impediment to what will me a remarkable comeback if he pulls it off, as we all hope he does.