Phelps guns for Thorpe, wants to reverse result of 2004 Athens Games
February 13th, 2011 - 3:17 pm ICT by ANI
Sydney, Feb 13 (ANI): Expressing his hopes of a rematch with Australian legend Ian Thorpe at the London Olympics, Swimming ace Michael Phelps has welcomed the chance to reverse the result at next year’s Olympics.
In what was dubbed the “Race of the Century”, Thorpe defeated Dutch great Pieter van den Hoogenband and Phelps in the 200-metre final of the 2004 Athens Games.
“Ian’s one of the all-time greats in swimming; it’s definitely good to have someone like him back in the sport,” Phelps told The Sun-Herald.
“I think his return will bring more attention to swimming and should help to continue to grow the sport. ‘Hopefully we’ll get the chance to race each other,” he added.
Thorpe will target the 100m and 200m freestyle in London, raising hopes of another duel in the pool with Phelps in the 200m event.
The pair have gone head to head on one other occasion, the 2003 world championships.
Phelps smashed his previous world record time of one minute, 56.04 seconds in the 200m individual medley to win the gold medal, almost three seconds ahead of Thorpe.
Thorpe was lauded as perhaps the greatest swimmer of all time when he retired. That mantle now belongs to Phelps.
Phelps has won 16 Olympic medals 14 of them gold compared to Thorpe’s nine (five gold). (ANI)
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- Michael Phelps wins the gold medal at the FINA Swimming World Championship - Jul 27, 2011
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- Lochte overtakes Phelps for gold in World Swimming Championships - Jul 26, 2011
- South Korea aims 10 gold medals at London Olympics - Apr 19, 2012
- Indian swimmers win gold, not Olympic berth - Jul 06, 2011
- Phelps wins 400m medley gold at Austin meet - Jan 15, 2012
- Teenage swimming sensation Seebohm to spearhead Oz challenge at CWG - Aug 27, 2010
- India begins medal chase after CWG opening ceremony - Oct 04, 2010
- Delhi's Richa Mishra wins four golds in swimming (Lead) - Feb 14, 2011
- Rebecca Adlington seeks gold on her CWG debut - Oct 02, 2010
- Swimming Australia plans to lure Phelps for Thorpe showdown - Apr 03, 2011
- Swimmers ready to break CWG medal jinx - Sep 22, 2010
Tags: 100m, athens games, australian legend, duel in the pool, freestyle, gold medal, ian thorpe, individual medley, london olympics, mantle, michael phelps, olympic medals, pieter van den, pieter van den hoogenband, sun herald, swimmer, time greats, van den hoogenband, world championships, world record time