Swimming: Thorpe fails in qualification

The five-time Olympic champion was third in his butterfly heat in 54.09 seconds.

SINGAPORE: Swimming great Ian Thorpe failed to qualify for Singapore’s World Cup short-course 100m butterfly final as his keenly awaited comeback from a five-year retirement ended in disappointment. The five-time Olympic champion, who finished second-last in the 100m individual medley final, was third in his butterfly heat in 54.09 seconds but 11th overall, denying him his only remaining chance of a medal. Thorpe, however, insisted he was not surprised by the result. “I came here expecting to get absolutely hammered in races,” he said. “Anyone who didn’t think that was going to happen didn’t have things in perspective.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2011.