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.
Parents
Former Member
I often wonder in the Australian Olympic trials, did the starter have anything to do with Thorpe's falling in the water?
Not having seen the film of it, I have to wonder. In many countries the officials have way too much power, are treated like royalty. They have their own break rooms with spiral wrapped ham, wines and drinks, all the goodies that the swimmers never see. I have seen this with my own eyes!
With the no false start rule, you would think Thorpe thought someone else moved, he surely has many years now of international experience. No rookie here.
A small (population) country like Australia should be able to send it's best swimmers with out our intervention. Many countries don't even have their own trials.
I am still upset on why we only get to send two swimmers instead of three per event, and don't get me started about how Algeria has more world power that the USA, so sending Thorpe is fine by me.
I often wonder in the Australian Olympic trials, did the starter have anything to do with Thorpe's falling in the water?
Not having seen the film of it, I have to wonder. In many countries the officials have way too much power, are treated like royalty. They have their own break rooms with spiral wrapped ham, wines and drinks, all the goodies that the swimmers never see. I have seen this with my own eyes!
With the no false start rule, you would think Thorpe thought someone else moved, he surely has many years now of international experience. No rookie here.
A small (population) country like Australia should be able to send it's best swimmers with out our intervention. Many countries don't even have their own trials.
I am still upset on why we only get to send two swimmers instead of three per event, and don't get me started about how Algeria has more world power that the USA, so sending Thorpe is fine by me.
