Swimming: Balance lacking out of the pool

By CHRIS RATTUE

Why didn't Ian Thorpe just hang around a bit longer before plunging into the pool, and plunging his country folk into a bitter debate about his Olympic demise in the 400m freestyle.

In case you missed it, Thorpedo torpedoed his own chance of defending his 400m freestyle title in Athens with a false start in the heats - yes, the heats - of the Australian trials.

This may sound akin to George Dubya not contesting the next American presidential race because he forgot to fill out his party membership form.


But justice has prevailed and it's already in the history books - Ian Thorpe will not compete in the 400m freestyle in Athens.

He will go to this year's Olympics, having qualified in other events, but not in the race where his legend lives the largest, where he is the world champion, and also the world record holder. Ian Thorpe IS 400m freestyle swimming.

This has led to all sorts of drama in Australia. Prime Minister and sports geek John Howard - last seen gripping the rails in terror while watching Australia at the Rugby World Cup - called Thorpe's early plunge a "tragedy".

There were also calls for the poor bloke who got the second qualification spot to step aside. Incredibly, Shane Gould - an Australian swimming legend herself, who should really know better - was among those shouting loudest for Thorpe's mate Craig Stevens to stand down (even before Stevens had attempted to qualify in his favoured event.)

Fat chance. I mean, would you? On one hand, you could fulfil a life's dream and try to win a medal in a sport revered by your country at the greatest show on earth. Or on the other hand, you could say, "Nah, let that Thorpy go, he's a nice bloke. Swimming's only ever been a bit of a hobby."

You would suspect it was quite an easy choice for Mr Stevens and the swimming officials who were being asked not so much to bend but to mangle the rules.

Thorpe was not about to put one of his famously big feet in it either. As per usual, he emerged in style - declaring he certainly did not want anyone else to stand down. More remarkable than the controversy was just how Thorpe managed to stuff up in the first place.

He didn't so much commit a false start, as topple into the water in a confused state after apparently hearing a starting gun that no one else - including the official recording of the event - picked up. Thorpe appealed, but in vain.

After so many swimming meets, so many training sessions, so many starts, maybe he just had a flash of very unfortunate deja vu.

Because, unless you've got a speedboat, there's really very little chance of beating Thorpe over 400m even if he copied what us aquatic disasters do when forced to enter a pool, and gingerly climbed down the ladder before setting off.

Thorpedo could have listened for the gun, made a cup of tea, clinched another million-dollar deal, then slid into the water and still got to Athens.

So the Games have lost out. But that's sport, and the good guys still triumphed because Thorpe copped it on the chin, showing the grace which has also made him a champion in the pool.