Australian Olympic and world champion Ian Thorpe said he would have to swim faster to beat a South African challenge at next month’s Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, after winning the 100m freestyle final at the trials on Thursday.
Thorpe overhauled tearaway leader Ben Hawke to win in 49,28 seconds — 0,42 seconds slower than his 100m semifinal time the previous evening.
Asked what he needs to do to be competitive against South African sprint duo Roland Schoeman and Ryk Neethling in the 100m at the Games in March, Thorpe said: ”I need to go a bit faster.”
Australia’s most decorated Olympian was 0,72 seconds outside his personal best and said he must make up some ground in the next six weeks.
”It was alright. I thought I would be quicker than last night and in the big scheme of things, it was disappointing. I am going to have to be much quicker at the Commonwealth Games,” he said.
Australian record holder Michael Klim was second in 49,38 seconds.
Thorpe is returning to competitive swimming after more than a year out of competition. The 200m and 400m world-record holder faces some stiff opposition in the two-lap sprint from Schoeman and Neethling.
Thorpe won the 100m bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, with Schoeman taking silver and Neethling fourth.
World champion Jessicah Schipper (57,15 seconds) became the second-fastest women in 100m butterfly history by clipping 0,08 seconds off her Commonwealth record in the final.
The 19-year-old butterfly specialist overhauled Libby Lenton (57,35) in the last lap to prove she is still the one to chase in the event.
Only Dutchwoman Inge de Bruijn has gone quicker than Schipper’s effort. — Sapa-AFP