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.
Originally posted by dorothyrd
What happens in 4 years when someone else does this, and maybe does not have the name and quality Thorpe has, and says "Well you did it for Thorpe, now do it for me". I think Australia may be setting themselves up for future problems. Of course, that is Australia's problem, not anyone elses.
Thorpe FALSE STARTED!
So, now we are taking the slippery slope position. Thorpe is a once-in-a-generation swimmer. I certainly doubt this spells the end of civilized sport in Australia.
I think everyone on this thread recognizes he false started so not sure what your point is by repeating it. The only point is that Australia is allowed to interpret and implement THEIR rules as THEY see fit.
If Stevens is on the team, will make money from this (talk about shady), Thorpe swims and the Australians have done absolutely nothing wrong, what do you do-gooders have left to claim, other than he false started?
This is no longer about sportmanship, it's about one-upmanship and your desire to win more medals. Greedy.
Originally posted by dorothyrd
What happens in 4 years when someone else does this, and maybe does not have the name and quality Thorpe has, and says "Well you did it for Thorpe, now do it for me". I think Australia may be setting themselves up for future problems. Of course, that is Australia's problem, not anyone elses.
Thorpe FALSE STARTED!
So, now we are taking the slippery slope position. Thorpe is a once-in-a-generation swimmer. I certainly doubt this spells the end of civilized sport in Australia.
I think everyone on this thread recognizes he false started so not sure what your point is by repeating it. The only point is that Australia is allowed to interpret and implement THEIR rules as THEY see fit.
If Stevens is on the team, will make money from this (talk about shady), Thorpe swims and the Australians have done absolutely nothing wrong, what do you do-gooders have left to claim, other than he false started?
This is no longer about sportmanship, it's about one-upmanship and your desire to win more medals. Greedy.
