Phelps wants to race Thorpe in Beijing
US swimmer Michael Phelps walks near the logo for the 2008 Olympic Games during a press conference in Beijing yesterday. Phelps is in Beijing on a goodwill tour to promote the 2007 Special Olympics, to be held in Shanghai. AP |
Speaking to media in Beijing Phelps offered his support to Thorpe, who is currently fighting off doping allegations.
"Ian and I have been great friends and great competitors over the past few years, and I wish him all the best.
"Whatever happened, happened. Definitely my support is with him and I'm definitely hoping for the best."
An article in a French newspaper two weeks ago alleged that Thorpe, a five-time Olympic champion, last year tested positive for abnormal levels of testosterone. Thorpe has strenuously denied the claims.
Phelps, who won six golds in Athens in 2004, said he was unconcerned that the scandal could overshadow the swimming events at the Beijing Games: "You know, if it does,it does; if it doesn't it doesn't. You have a job to do no matter what. A lot of people say different things, a lot of people say what they want."
The 21-year-old from Baltimore still believes that his rival, known as "the Thorpedo", can come out of retirement and compete at the Games.
"He's a remarkable athlete. With the amount of talent he has for the sport of swimming he can do anything he wants. He's proven how dominant he can be in the freestyle world. If he wants to start training now and get ready for the Olympics now, I definitely wouldn't put it past him.
"I think he still has a lot in him and you could definitely see him swim fast again."
Asked if he would beat him, Phelps did not sound overly-confident: "You'd have to see in a race. I'd like to race him."
Phelps has never beaten Thorpe in the 200m freestyle, their cross-over event, and he lost the "race of the century" against Thorpe and Dutch man Pieter van den Hoogenband at the Athens Olympics. However, Phelps broke Thorpe's world record in the event at the just-concluded World Championships in Melbourne.
Phelps won seven gold medals in Melbourne, and only an error from a teammate in the relay cost him an eighth. Phelps said he was preparing a program that would give him a shot at topping compatriot Mark Spitz's seven golds at the 1972 Munich Games.
"I would like to try that kind of event programme next year," he said. "That's the goal. Going into the (Melbourne) meet, I wanted to be able to compete at that level with that event program.
"I hadn't tried (it) since Athens ... so being ... as successful as I was, I'd really love to have the opportunity to do it again."
In a controversial move to accommodate the primetime US television audience, the swimming finals at the Beijing Games have been moved to the morning. The decision sparked outcry from some within the sport, notably from the Australian team, but Phelps backed the change.
"To be perfectly honest, it's the Olympics. If you're not ready to swim at that given time, don't come. If you can't step up and get excited for an event whether it's morning or the finals, stay at home and watch it on TV. "
With just over a year until the Games and given the dominating nature of his seven victories in Melbourne it appears increasingly unlikely that anyone can seriously challenge him.
However Phelps was not prepared to write off anyone, not even the Chinese team that flopped so badly in Melbourne, winning just two medals.
Chinese challenge
"You've seen in the past, wherever the Olympics is that home country is always at their best. The Chinese next year are going to be even more excited that they ever have been. It's in their country, they are going to make the Olympics a one-of-a-kind.
"(They are going to) show something that's never been seen in the Olympics, in venues, in everything that goes into the Olympics. It's kind of our job to re-defend our title in the medals.
"A lot can change in a year, people can come out and surprise a lot of people. It goes back to me leading up to the 2000 games. How many people thought I'd make that team? Not many people."
But, he added, the United States was still very much the team to beat.
"We have had, still do have, some of the best swimmers that ever swam. We can theoretically go one-two in a lot of events. No matter what pressure is put on the team we'll come out satisfied."
Phelps is in Beijing with teammates Katie Hoff, Ryan Lochte and Megan Jendrick to lend their support to the Special Olympic Games, which take place in Shanghai in early October.
A total of 7,500 athletes with mental disabilities will compete at the Games, and Phelps encouraged the athletes to keep aiming for gold.
"We start from having a dream, having goals. Mine was to be on the Olympic team and win gold. We're on different levels, but we get there the same way: hard work and dedication."
(China Daily 04/10/2007 page22)
