Ian Thorpe will make his much anticpated comeback to competition at next weekend’s FINA World Cup Meet. His Coach Tracey Menzies confirmed that the 23 year old will end 15 months of competiiton exile when he lines up in the 100m freestyle next Saturday.
“He just wants to get back in and have a race and get used to that again,” Menzies told Nicole Jeffrey writing in The Australian. “He seems to be going not too bad, so it will be good to get in and have a hit-out.”
It will prove a testing return for Thorpe who will face off against the likes of former world short course champion Ashley Callus and world long course bronze medallist Ryk Neethling in the 4 lap dash. His next target will be qualification for the Commonwealth Games at the Australian Trials in January. Having already confirmed his participation in the 100 and 200 events but is also widely anticipated to compete in the 50m event. A decision on the 400m freetsyle has yet to be made.
You will be able to follow Thorpe’s progress in Sydney at pullbuoy, which will be providing full coverage of the world cup meet, including live coverage from poolside.