VICTORIA, British Columbia _ The swimming world's superstars are all in
the pool this week, trying to make an early splash for the Beijing Olympics.
All except, perhaps, the biggest name _ Ian Thorpe, who's been hanging out in
Hollywood and enjoying the spoils of his success.
Word is the Australian has moved to Los Angeles, where he's reportedly living
in a million-dollar house with treetop views near the Sunset Strip, and relaxing
with fellow Aussies, like actor Heath Ledger.
There are reports of weekly poker games and, oh yeah, Thorpe shows up at the
University of Southern California's pool once in a while.
It's a good life for someone who can't walk the streets of his home country
or Japan without being besieged. But it's scheduled to end in September, when he
plans to head back to Australia.
"Part of the reason why Ian went there was to try and look for new
inspiration and new enthusiasm," Australian head coach Alan Thompson said this
week at the Pan Pacific Championships.
"When you've achieved all the goals Ian has set for himself then you need
that motivation."
The five-time Olympic gold medalist has not raced internationally since the
2004 Athens Olympics. He took a six-month break from swimming, then raced at two
meets in Australia last winter.
Illness and injury, namely a broken bone in a hand earlier this year, have
hindered him. He twice postponed his return to the pool, then temporarily
relocated to Los Angeles.
The setbacks and skipped meets have fueled rumors in the tightly knit world
swimming community that Thorpe might not return or will never regain his
championship form.
"I'm not concerned," said Thompson, who plans to visit Thorpe next week
during a stopover en route home. "I hear from him and his manager and
(University of Southern California coach) Dave Salo. Everything is going pretty
well."
A posting on Thorpe's Web site says it has been temporarily closed, however,
it promises "some exciting news shortly."
The swimming world awaits, especially American Phelps, Thorpe's chief rival
in the 200-meter freestyle.
"I'd love to be able to get back to a race like Athens, where we're both
physically at our best and we're able to go at it," said Phelps, who earned a
bronze medal behind the victorious Thorpe in 2004. "It's more exciting that way
for us and for the fans."
In Thorpe's absence, Phelps has made significant gains toward threatening the
Aussie's world record in the 200 free. Pieter van den Hoogenband of the
Netherlands, the 2004 silver medalist, is back racing, too.
Phelps said
he was "a little bit" surprised about Thorpe's disappearance. The U.S. team
trained at the University of Southern California pool one day last month. Phelps
anticipated bumping into Thorpe, but the Aussie wasn't around.
"I have expected to see more of him and hear more of him, but he clearly
knows what's best for him," Phelps said. "He could take a year off and still
come back and do it."
Thompson said he expects Thorpe to return in time for Australia's national
trials in December, the qualifying meet for next year's World Championships in
Melbourne.