Ian Thorpe qualified equal fifth-fastest for the 200m freestyle semi-finals at Australia's Olympic swimming trials in Adelaide on Friday morning.
Thorpe led most of his heat before fading late on the final 50m to clock one minute and 49.16 seconds and finish equal second in his heat.
It was the quickest time of Thorpe's comeback, improving considerably on his 1:50.79 at the Victorian state championships in June.
Ryan Napoleon won the heat and was fastest qualifier in 1:48.27, while teenager David McKeon clocked the same time as Thorpe.
Thorpe, swimming in his first national titles in six years, will need to finish in the top eight fastest times in Friday night's semi-finals to progress to Saturday night's final.
