A big pool of talent

Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe made a comeback last year and, during Monday's exclusive interview with China Daily, said he will take the time to meticulously execute his latest effort. [Photo/Agencies]

Thorpe says Aussie coaches should be able to work with Chinese swimmers, Chen Xiangfeng reports.

It may have come as a bitter-sweet feeling when Australian fans watched Chinese swimmers glide to gold at the London Olympic Games after being trained and instructed by Australian coaches

while their own stars struggled.

But Australian swim legend Ian Thorpe, who is busy on the road to an international comeback, said he welcomes the exchange.

"I do not agree that Australian coaches should not coach Chinese because of the rivalry in swimming," the five-time Olympic champion said during his visit to China on Monday as the ambassador for natural health supplement brand Blackmores.

"Australia takes sport seriously. When we have a conversation like whether or not we should allow our coaches to support Chinese athletes, we take this question very seriously. (But) I am in favor of it.

"I think having the best Chinese athletes training in Australia and giving them the chance to win Olympic medals is a good thing as it will show our athletes the path to winning Olympic medals as well."

China's swimming prodigy, Sun Yang, who bagged gold medals in the 400m and 1,500m freestyle at the London Olympics, was reportedly pushed to the verge of a split with his coach, Australian Denis Cotterell, after it was reported Australia swimming's governing body had banned Cotterell from coaching foreign swimmers during the Games.

Both sides denied that report, but it did highlight the tense situation.

Thorpe, however, sees the bright side of such a dispute.

"I do not think it is detracting from services the Australian coaches provide to the Australian athletes," he said. "We have a good level of coaching and sports-science background. It must be the best in the world. It is good recognition. I prefer opening Australia to more athletes to support our program.

"In terms of swimming, we share everything we know with the rest of the world. We are happy to share."

Swimming Australia slammed Cotterell and other Australian coaches for being perceived as lifting China above Australia as a world power in London while also serving with the Australian coaching staff.

China finished with a haul of five gold, two silver and three bronze medals in London, following the US as runner-up on the medal tally, while Australia grabbed one gold, six silver and three bronze, its worst outcome since the 1992 Barcelona Games.

Thorpe, who won three and two golds respectively at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, said Australia's flop in the pool was due to the improvement of the whole world, not just China.

"The rest of the world is at its best in swimming at the moment," he said. "It's not just the US or China. It's the whole world performing very well. The depth of swimming is the best it has ever been. It's a really good thing for the sport throughout the world."

Thorpe also shrugged off criticism of the swimming team and said he believes the Aussies will bounce back at the next Olympics.

"I think we will return better and will win more medals at the next Olympic Games," he said.

Thorpe announced his retirement in November 2006, citing waning motivation.

More patient Thorpe

He made a return last year and competed at Australia's Olympic Trials, but failed to make the team.

Now, Thorpe is more patient and hoping to give himself more time to regain his competitive edge.

"I am still training at the moment. I did not have enough time to prepare for the London Olympic trials. Now I have given myself more time to be able to prepare how I would like to for my next competition."

The best news is that Thorpe has rediscovered his passion.

"I have learned to re-love my sport I have found that feeling again. I will enjoy it. At the moment, I enjoy being a swimmer again. For a long time, I did not enjoy it."

Thorpe said he will tune up at some small competitions before competing in major tournaments.

"In the next two years we will have World Championships, Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships," he said. "It will be around that period (I come back). I realize I was short of time for my last preparation, so I won't rush it this time."

Turning 30 this year, a more mature and relaxed Thorpe is not placing himself under any pressure, having achieved everything he wanted to in the sport.

"I achieved more than I could have imagined when I started the sport as a child," he said. "My goal at a very young age was to become an Olympic swimmer and my dream was to become an Olympic champion. I did this when I was 17."