If I am reading this right, Swiminfo.com is reporting that Craig Stevens is indeed going to back out of the 400 and leave it up to Australia Swimming to "pick another member of the Olympic Team" to swim that race in Athens. If I am ANY other country, swimmer, the 3rd place finisher at the Trials or an organization interested in ethics, then I am raising a stink on this one!!!! Thorpe DQ'd and the Aussies are going to skirt the rule and get him in anyway. They would be relegated to the status of Ben Johnson, Rosie Ruiz, and the 60+% of MLB who are on steriods! This is FREAKIN' UNBELIEVABLE. I have no respect for any of the aforementioned and if this happens, none for Ian Thorpe and the Australian swim federation (or whatever official name they hide behind) are in that seeming, stinking pile.
This is all silly. No one seems to care we have professional athletes in the Olympic yet people are all hot and bothered by one country, using their own rules, making an exception for the worlds best swimmer, or almost the best anyway.
Personally, the Olympics without Thorpe suffers. If he used an illegal stroke or was hopped up on gull80's magic swim potion, then ok, keep him home.
Swimming takes the stage front and center once every four years. It's the best we can get right now so put aside your little pet peeve and watch some great swimming. Now, that's only assuming the Greeks remember to put water in the pool, if the budget still allows for that.
This is all silly. No one seems to care we have professional athletes in the Olympic yet people are all hot and bothered by one country, using their own rules, making an exception for the worlds best swimmer, or almost the best anyway.
Personally, the Olympics without Thorpe suffers. If he used an illegal stroke or was hopped up on gull80's magic swim potion, then ok, keep him home.
Swimming takes the stage front and center once every four years. It's the best we can get right now so put aside your little pet peeve and watch some great swimming. Now, that's only assuming the Greeks remember to put water in the pool, if the budget still allows for that.
