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A shattered Ian Thorpe is clinging to hope his London Olympic dream is not over despite bombing out in the 200m freestyle at the national swimming trials in Adelaide.
Thorpe was left “utterly gutted” after being overpowered by a youthful field and managing only the 12th fastest time in Friday night’s semi-finals to miss out on a spot in Saturday night’s decider.
The event was considered Thorpe’s best chance at qualification and his comeback hopes now ride on finishing top six in a strong field for the 100m freestyle, starting on Sunday.
That looks near-impossible, though, as he will come up against a talented group including world champion James Magnussen, Matt Targett, Eamon Sullivan, Matt Abood, James Roberts and Cameron McEvoy.
Thorpe, though, is not giving up.
“You never know,” he said.
“… I still want my spot on this team. It got a little harder but I’ll find something in myself to give myself the best shot and try not to let this detract from that possibility.”
After an impressive swim in the morning heats to qualify equal fifth-fastest on Friday, Thorpe again went out strongly in his semi-final.
But the 29-year-old said he couldn’t find enough at the business end of the race, fading to finish sixth in his semi-final in a time three-quarters-of-a-second slower than his heat swim.
Ryan Napoleon (1:47.51) was fastest qualifier ahead of Thomas Fraser-Holmes (1:47.57).
“I just didn’t have the pick-up that I wanted there,” Thorpe said.
“… For me, it was a pretty ordinary swim.”
Thorpe compared his disappointment to when he false started in trials for the 2004 Athens Olympics but said he’d never felt as bad after a race.
Thorpe reiterated his desire to continue swimming after the trials, regardless of how he fares in the 100m.
Australia’s most successful Olympian with five gold medals, Thorpe still believes he is capable of competing at the highest level.
“I wouldn’t and I won’t keep training unless I think that I can do that,” he said.
“I think that’s the thing that has motivated me and that’s the only thing that will motivate me in the future.”
Kylie Palmer produced the swim of Friday night’s session, beating Bronte Barratt in the 400m freestyle and breaking her Australian record in an impressive 4:03.40.
Libby Trickett missed her first chance to qualify for the London team, finishing behind Alicia Coutts and Jess Schipper in the 100m butterfly, but gets a chance to make amends in the 100m freestyle starting on Monday.
Coutts returns to the pool on Saturday morning in the heats of the 200m individual medley, an event she is set to fight out with 400IM champion Stephanie Rice and Emily Seebohm.
Rice had her troublesome shoulder taped after winning Thursday’s 400IM but is expected to be fit to race.
Controversial swimmer Nick D’Arcy begins his 200m butterfly campaign on Saturday.