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| July 20, 2003 | Sunday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 19, 1424 |
Thorpe not looking to create history
BARCELONA (Spain), July 19: Ian Thorpe has the chance to create history yet again on the opening night of the world swimming championships on Sunday.
The 20-year-old multiple world record holder could become the first swimmer to win three consecutive world titles in the same race when he competes in the 400m freestyle.
But the ‘Thorpedo’, who became the youngest world champion when he won the title in Perth five years ago, insists that the personal glory will be the furthest thing from his mind when he gets onto the starting blocks at the Palau Sant Jordi pool on Sunday evening.
“I don’t get satisfaction from those type of things,” said the man who became the first swimmer to win six world gold medals at the last world championships when he also set four world records.
“Self satisfaction is knowing that I put as much as I can into the race and this is the reason for the success in my career.
“It’s not about the glory that comes with the success, it’s all about the experience in a great place like this.”
While Thorpe may not be looking for glory, his teammate Grant Hackett is ready to spur him on over the distance Sunday, as he did during the worlds two years ago when they went 1-2, with Thorpe breaking the record which he lowered again during last year’s Commonwealth Games.
Hackett has his own chance to write history by winning a third consecutive 1500m title next week.
But the 23-year-old from the Gold Coast has been steadily catching up in the 400m, in which he holds the world short-course record, and is ranked two in the world behind Thorpe.
“It’s all on Ian,” said Hackett.
“He’s the two-time champion and world record holder. I just hope I give him a good run and do a personal best.
“I definitely think that I can take big chunks off my time, but the first race is just getting the cobwebs off. I just cross my fingers that it is Australia 1-2 and convincingly would be nice.”
The duo are way ahead of the field on times with Thorpe’s world record 3:40.08, and Hackett’s fastest this year 3:42.94
Their nearest challengers are four or more seconds behind with the top contenders Italians Emiliano Brembilla, bronze medallist in Fukuoka, and Massimiliano Rosolino along with Klete Keller of the United States.—AFP
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