galela

[URL=http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/cpress/20040327/ca_pr_on_sp/swim_thorpe_dq_4]http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/cpress/20040327/ca_pr_on_sp/swim_thorpe_dq_4[/UR L]

"SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - World record-holder Ian Thorpe (news - web sites) lost a chance to defend his 400-meter freestyle title in the Athens Olympics after being disqualified in the Australian trials.

Thorpe fell off the starting blocks Saturday on the first day of the eight-day trials. He said he heard a noise, disrupting his concentration.

But Thorpe's appeal to Australian Swimming officials was later dismissed. Under Australia's strict qualification policy, only the two fastest swimmers in each race final qualify for the Olympics.

There was no immediate comment from the 21-year-old Thorpe on whether he might appeal the case to a higher jurisdiction.

Thorpe appeared to overbalance on the blocks and fell into the water before the official start of his heat. He then got out of the pool and returned to the blocks with the rest of the competitors.

But meet referee John Keppie walked over to Thorpe's No. 4 block and disqualified him, surprising the small crowd at the centre. Thorpe appeared stunned as he walked off the pool deck.

Thorpe's manager, David Flaskas, said the Olympic, world and Commonwealth champion heard a noise before he fell into the water.

"Ian thought they were held a bit too long and he heard a noise, the audiovisual does not show that noise, so evidence wise it is a bit difficult," Flaskas said.

Flaskas said Thorpe was trying to come to grips with his disqualification.

"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," Flaskas said. "He has not said a lot, he is disappointed and absorbing it all at the moment and we cannot dwell on it.

"This is day one and he has major swims over the next few days and that is where his head has to be at."

Thorpe's next major swim is Monday in the 200 freestyle, where he is also world-record holder. He also holds the world record in the 800, a non-Olympic event.

Thorpe has dominated world 400-meter freestyle swimming since becoming the youngest male world champion at the age of 15."


This is gonna be a joke without him. [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]
But let's hope it's not gonna happen with the 200-meter.

[ 03-27-2004: Message edited galela ]

[ 03-27-2004: Message edited galela ]

Ambato

i cant believe that rule! i had no idea they had it, it's so stupid, it was an accident (good for grant though) They should definately get rid of that rule, esp. in heats & trials,

the picture they stuck on the front of the paper looked funny, like he was bellyflopping or something

*Lauren

Not Thorpey! Stupid, stupid rule.

It was because he is a Canterbury Bulldogs fan! Its all the conspiricy against any Bulldogs fan! (and this is a joke)

galela

i know [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]
i was standing in front of my tv like: no! no! nooo! nooo that can't be!! noooo! [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/bawl.gif[/img] [img]smilies/bawl.gif[/img]

now he can't get em all this olympics either! last time he lost one, this time he wanted to get them all & now this happens! [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]

but whoever's gonna win that gold medal will thank thorpedo for falling off yesterday [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]

[img]smilies/bawl.gif[/img] this sucks! [img]smilies/bawl.gif[/img]

-Kelly-

This sucks [img]smilies/pout.gif[/img]

Silversun

Poor Ian! [img]smilies/bawl.gif[/img] I was really upset when I saw this on the news.

Kyls

[img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]

*Lauren

The worst part of all of this, is the pressure now being put on Craig Stevens to give up his spot for Thorpe. Everyone's saying "Its a possibilty, but we don't want to put pressure on him" Well then SHUT THE HELL UP! By talking about it, you're putting pressre on him.

I know Thorpey a little bit (is a friend of a friend. If I hadn't been working, I would have been able to go to his 21st) and he is the nicest guy. I don't think its something he would let Stevens do, because it wasn't honrauble. As gutted as he would be about this, I think he realises rules are rules. They're just stupid rules!

galela

it's just ridiculous. he obviously just feel off that damn thing & tried to stop himself from falling. [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]

how did it go today? i know the 100 oder 200 meters were today.

Phee

OMG tell me about it! I completely agree, just let him be.

I do think it sucks for Thorpe that he's gonna miss the race, but the rules are the rules and the rules have been this way since '98. I'm sure there are plenty of other people who've been disqualified from races during that time, but no one's kicked up a stink about it until now. It's like all of a sudden because it's Thorpey getting the shaft, only NOW does everyone start bitching about the unfair rule. If they had have bitched about it 6 years ago, then the rule may not even exist and we wouldn't be having this discussion today.

Evie

I thought it was hilarious.

I don't think he should be allowed to swim the 400m. Rules are rules. He broke them and doesn't deserve to take the spot away from the other guy who earnt his spot.

galela

the olympics are meant for the best. whoever's gonna win the medal will know they didn't beat the best.
i know rules are rules but rules can be stupid & senseless.

*Lauren

galea, if he can't even get past the first heat in the Australian Championships, then by that reasoning, he's not the best.

I think it sucks, but all the brou-ha over it, is disgraceful. John Howard even described it as a national tradegy. No, Johnny, what's a national tradegy is that our men are in Iraq, while you worry about swimming competitions.

galela

the reason he didn't make it was that he fell into the water, not that he couldn't do it or that anyone was faster. nobody would've stood a chance against him & all the guys swimming those 400m know that. so what's the medal worth if the best on that distance wasn't there & you didn't beat him?
this rule is stupid & doesn't make any sense. if it did make sense, there wouldn't be any drama about who's getting to go.

[ 03-31-2004: Message edited galela ]

~*Johanna*~

I know what that's like. [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img] I used to be a competitive swimmer. The rules are so screwy. This one time, for instance: It was FREEZING cold out and when they said: "Take your mark", and I bent down, my foot moved a bit because I was shaking with the cold. After the race (which, by the way, I got second out of eight people) they told me I was disqualified because I moved my foot. How insane is that? I hardly moved, and I was so upset because I had gotten second. [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] Stupid rules.