Ian Thorpe, the man who has dominated 400 metre freestyle swimming for the last six years and broken the world record on five different occasions, will not defend his Olympic title in Athens. The 21-year-old Olympic, Commonwealth and world champion was today sensationally disqualified from the 400m freestyle at the Australian selection trials in Sydney after overbalancing into the water before the gun sounded to start his qualifying heat.
Thorpe returned to his position in the fourth lane but was approached by meeting referee John Keppie and informed of his disqualification for a false start. Two subsequent appeals against the decision failed and Thorpe's disqualification was confirmed, sending the swimming fraternity into a state of shock.
"This is one of the most devastating things that has happened to us," said Australian Swimming president John Devitt. "The only thing you can expect when you have trials that are so important is the unexpected. And at 10 o'clock today this was not expected."
Thorpe, who became the sport's youngest world champion in 1998 aged just 15, looked stunned as he left the poolside and lodged an immediate appeal, claiming the swimmers had been held too long on the blocks and that he had heard a noise before falling into the water.
When the referee dismissed Thorpe's protest his club requested Australian Swimming convene a jury of appeal. After studying the evidence and speaking to all parties involved, Australian Swimming chief executive Glenn Tasker confirmed Thorpe's appeal had failed.
"Having read the protest document, the response of the referee and having interviewed the referee, the competitor and the team manager, the jury determined it would also view the broadcaster's video," Tasker said. "Having done that, it is our determination that the referee's decision is correct and a determination of fact, the protest is dismissed, so Ian's disqualification stands."
Thorpe had been red-hot favourite to win the 400m freestyle gold in Athens this August and his manager David Flaskas said the superstar swimmer was struggling to come to terms with the decision.
But with qualifying for the 100m and 200m freestyle to come this week, Flaskas stressed Thorpe knew it was important not to become distracted by the disappointment.
"Ian thought they were held a bit too long and he heard a noise," he said. "He is obviously disappointed but I think it is important he gets refocused on the rest of the meet. He and (coach) Tracey Menzies are regrouping. He cannot dwell on it, the decision has been made. This is day one and he has major swims over the next few days and that is where his head has to be at.
Australian Swimming's strict qualification policy is to select only the fastest two swimmers in the final for the Olympics, providing both clock a time under the qualifying limit. Thorpe turned up to watch the evening final but his last, slim hopes were extinguished when his closest rival Grant Hackett - who was shocked and disappointed by what had unfolded - and Craig Stevens both qualified comfortably inside the limit.
Stevens, a club-mate of Thorpe's, refused to speak immediately after he had finished second in the final, some five seconds slower than Hackett and eight seconds off Thorpe's world record.
Thorpe has held the world best since 1999 and set the latest mark at three minutes, 40.08 seconds as he won the gold at the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002. He won the 400m freestyle at the world championships in 1998, 2001 and 2003, is twice Commonwealth champion over the distance and won gold at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
Thorpe holds the nine fastest times ever recorded for 400m freestyle, the 10th is held by Hackett who cruised to victory in the final. But it was not a satisfying race for Hackett, not without his long-time rival in the lane next door. "You're talking about one of the greatest athletes in history here and this is his pet event. He must be just hurting. I can't believe it," said Hackett, who put his hands on his head in disbelief when Thorpe was disqualified.
He added: "I didn't want to not have Ian Thorpe to swim against in the 400m freestyle. He's the greatest competitor in this event. He's done so many magnificent things with it."
Hackett argued for a change in the controversial one-start, which was introduced by swimming's governing body FINA in March 1998. "He didn't throw any chairs. He didn't get upset. He just quietly took himself behind the barriers," said the Olympic 1500m freestyle champion. "There should be a two-start rule and it's ridiculous that there's not. It's horrific."
Thorpe's next major swim is in the 200m freestyle heat, an event in which he also holds the world record. In the 100m freestyle, Thorpe has recorded only the third fastest time in history, behind Pieter van den Hoogenband and Alex Popov, who has now retired.
But as Australian swimming comes to terms with Thorpe's failure, hopes were fostered that an altered training regime and reduced workload could see the 'Thorpedo' replace the lost 400m gold with 100m gold.
Filed by Shane Murray
