Australia's Olympic “Thorpedo” Sinks in Adelaide

Ian Thorpe is a legendary swimmer in Australia, having won five Olympic gold medals and 11 world championships, while setting 13 world records between 1999 and his retirement in 2006. Thorpe had held the 200 meter freestyle world record for eight years.

Thorpe was the talk of the Australian sporting public, when he announced last fall that he would be making a comeback, in an attempt to swim in the 2012 London Olympic Games.  Thorpe was the most famous and popular swimmer in the world before Michael Phelps emerged onto the scene.

Earlier this month, at competitions in Adelaide, Australia, Thorpe failed to even make the finals of the 100 and 200 meter freestyles. As a result, his quest to compete in London is officially over.

The 29-year-old Thorpe said he will attempt to swim for Australia in the 2013 World Championships at Barcelona and in the 2014 Commonwealth Games at Glasgow, Scotland.  He also did not rule out competing in the 2016 Olympics at Rio de Janeiro.

Thorpe has won a total of nine Olympic medals to date.