Thorpe confident of making Olympic team
Five-time Olympic champion Ian Thorpe is not swimming nearly fast enough to make the team for the London Games, but most Australians are hanging on to the hope he can still make it.
"We know he hasn't dominated just yet but he still has plenty of time to regain his form before the team is selected," internet betting agency Sportsbet's Shaun Anderson said on Wednesday when releasing figures showing odds in favour of the 29-year-old getting into his togs in London.
A poll in The Sydney Morning Herald also showed faith, with 54 per cent of the 3,587 respondents expecting the Thorpedo to be on the London list.
It looks like wishful thinking.
Thorpe last broke a world record a decade ago and his most realistic hope is to be among the six picked for the 200-metre relay.
At a weekend meet in Italy, Thorpe posted times in the 100 metres and 200 metres that would not have made it into a ranking of the top 20 fastest Australian times this year.
"It's not a concern now - maybe later - but now it's too premature," Thorpe responded to those who have already counted him out of the reckoning at the trials in Adelaide in 13 weeks.