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.
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I agree with Karen: why hide behind the pretense of an Olympic Trials if they already have a desired result (s)...Thorpe and Hackett in the 200/400, Hackett/Stevens in the 1500, etc.? Oh, that's right, swimming is one of those sports where the titles, accomplishments and performances are earned IN the water and not named or assigned by a governing body. If that's not the case, change it. You apparently have the authority.
I agree with Karen: why hide behind the pretense of an Olympic Trials if they already have a desired result (s)...Thorpe and Hackett in the 200/400, Hackett/Stevens in the 1500, etc.? Oh, that's right, swimming is one of those sports where the titles, accomplishments and performances are earned IN the water and not named or assigned by a governing body. If that's not the case, change it. You apparently have the authority.
