Some of the biggest names in Australian swimming have weighed in on the biggest name in Australian swimming, Ian Thorpe, and his comeback attempt. Kieran Perkins thinks he should travel less. Former Grant Hackett coach Dennis Cotterell thinks that his attempt too late.
But now, the biggest swimming name of the 20th century, American Mark Spitz has weighed in on Thorpe’s comeback. He told The Australian that it would be easy for Thorpe to come back to training, but that it was re-learning how to compete against the new generation of swimmers that would cause him the most problems.
“I don’t think as an athlete you forget how to train, what you really lose is that you don’t know how to race the new competitors. One of the nuances of why I was successful is that I knew how to compete against those who I had been competing against for years. When I came to the pool, I knew that they were wondering who would finish second behind me,” Spitz told The Australian. “”So therein lies the handicap. (You) have lost the edge of how to compete against the new stars.”
Spitz is speaking from experience. 17 years after retiring himself (albeit at a much older 41-years old), Spitz failed to even come close to qualifying for the 1992 US Olympic Trials. Recent results seem to indicate that there’s some truth to Spitz’s word. All reports are that Thorpe is training very well, yet competitively the results haven’t shown up yet in his times.
Spitz has also made predictions about what Michael Phelps‘ event schedule will look like for London. He’s calling that Phelps will swim the 100 and 200 flies, the 200 free, and two of the relays – the medley and 800 free relays. Overall, he expects Phelps to swim 6 events (it’s not clear which one he expects to be the 6th – the 200 IM or the 400 free relay are the probable candidates).
to some extent, i agree with waterbear13. I’ve gotten bad vibes from Spitz (regardless of what he says) starting with indignation that he wasn’t invited to the 08 Olympics, and most strongly when he remarked during an interview that had there been a 50m freestyle, he would’ve won 8 golds as well.
Anywho, I think there is a misunderstanding of what spitz had to say (the media plays assist in this). http://www.3news.co.nz/VIDEO-Mark-Spitz-predicts-Michael-Phelps-will-win-five-gold-medals-at-2012-London-Olympics/tabid/415/articleID/241998/Default.aspx
In the actually video (on the right), its clear that he believes that Phelps will win the 2 flies, and the 200free, as we as 2 relays– while that 3rd relay is in doubt. He also remarks that Phelps may swim other… Read more »
I haven’t really liked spitz since the interviews he gave during the 08 olympics. He never really said anything positive about phelps, and kept talking about himself and what he went through and his experience. Spitz isn’t a positve influence for swimming anymore. He just keeps trying to insert himself back into the spotlight. I doubt he has any insider information on any of today’s elite athletes and just keeps giving interviews to see his name in print. Time for him to move on, and just be a fan of the sport
BK, I agree with you. Phelps would drop the 200 free first BEFORE he even thinks about dropping 200 IM.
I actually have a hunch Phelps will return to his roots: doing both fly and IM (yes, 400 IM too).
Honestly, I just cannot see Phelps not swimming 7 events. He WANTS that 200 IM world record BACK. And him not swimming all three relays is just not going to happen. He loves representing the good ole USA and some of the best competition and therefore pride in winning, come from those relays.
I agree Joe. Which is he going to drop? 100/200 fly are too easy to not swim them. He’s gotta do the relays. That means he’s giving up either the 200 free or 200 IM? I don’t think so. In fact, I’d bet the 200 free (with Sun Yang, among others, lurking) is more likely to be given up than the 200 IM if he does go down to 6.
Spitz also made some remark about not taking Phelps’ Worlds schedule as any indicator of what he’ll do in London. I’ve always felt he and Phelps had kind of an lukewarm relationship, so it may be opinions as much as insider knowledge.