Thorpe to swim 400m freestyle at Olympics

Australian superstar Ian Thorpe today gratefully accepted a second chance to defend his Olympic 400m title at the Athens Games in August. 

A month after he was sensationally disqualified for a false start in his heat of the event at the national selection trials,  21-year-old Thorpe said he would take his place in the 400m relinquished by team-mate Craig Stevens.

"I'm pleased that I have the opportunity to swim this event at the Olympics and I'm grateful to Craig to have given me this opportunity," world champion and world record holder Thorpe told a press conference in Sydney.

Stevens announced on television on Monday that he would withdraw in the hope that he could watch Thorpe swim the 400m final in Athens.

23-year-old Stevens said he wanted to now concentrate on his 1500m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle relay events at the Olympics.

Thorpe agreed "in some ways" he would be swimming in his favourite event by default but was satisfied Stevens had made his decision in what he considered his own best interests and not due to outside pressure.

Stevens earned about US$45,000 plus a 12-month contract from the Seven Network when he announced his decision on its evening current affairs program.

The announcement ended four weeks of agonising and intense public pressure and scrutiny for the previously little-known swimmer who had qualified for Athens by finishing second to Grant Hackett at the trials before also earning a berth in his pet 1500m event.

Filed by James Boylan