Nov 05, 2011
Singapore: Five-times Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe finished a disappointing seventh in the final of the 100 metres individual medley in a World Cup event on Friday on a tough first day back in competition after five years away.
The 29-year-old Australian, who hopes to qualify for next year's Olympics, started well with the butterfly leg before losing ground on the backstroke and then struggling with the breaststroke as he finished second-last in an event he rarely swam prior to retirement.
"I'm really pleased with the first 50, the fly leg was great, the backstroke was great and I'm really happy with the underwater work tonight," Thorpe told reporters.