thumbs down isnt the word for what i was thinking of channel 9 last night.
we saw half the swimming --not even that i bet.
its a national disgrace
if they cant handle the full program then let someone else do it.
its about time they stepped down and let the smaller channels
handle it
SHAME ON YOU CHANNEL 9

Well I don't think any other network would do it. Seven and Ten have blown just about all thier budgeted money on sport with the AFL, so they couldn't give a s**t who gets the rights to swimming.

Did they show Libby's World Record performance last night? I missed it. I'll I saw on Nine was cricket and thorpie..

I am not particularly partial to Ian Thorpe out of the swimming pool but I hate to see him like this.

Thorpedo out of shape
Jacquelin Magnay, Jessica Halloran and Philippa Bourke
August 4, 2006

Is this the beginning of the end of Thorpe's magnificent swimming career?

HE MUNCHES on pizza and hamburgers and slurps cola. He hasn't been training. And Ian Thorpe, the five-time Olympic champion, is getting fat.

The influences of the Hollywood Hills where Thorpe, 23, has moved to a house - previously frequented by John Lennon - have been less than disciplined. Is this the beginning of the end of Thorpe's magnificent swimming career?

On a recent weekday when the Trojan swim group at the University of Southern California gathered at 6am for its first session of the day, a squad member said he had seen Thorpe just three times.

Thorpe came to Los Angeles last month for a three-month refresher that may be extended to the 2007 world championship trials in December.

Another swimmer said Thorpe had been at the pool the day before. When asked how he found him, the young man replied wryly, "big, fat and hairy".

He quickly added, "No, he carries a lot of weight on him on purpose as part of his swim strategy." In the past fortnight the Herald has seen Thorpe train at the pool once, in the afternoon, in a relaxed, sociable way.

If Thorpe was in serious training under his Australian coach, Tracey Menzies, he would be in the pool twice a day and have a weights or land fitness session in between.

Instead he is out socialising with his neighbours, the actors Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger. Thorpe's hand, broken in April when he slipped in the bathroom, has not quite healed.

Thorpe's new coach, Dave Salo, said Thorpe came halfway around the world to find motivation.

"He needs to swim because he needs to, not because the whole of Australia wants him to," Salo said. "Otherwise, if he had stayed, I think he probably would have quit."

Thorpe has employed various strategies to maintain his motivation for the slog of training: he changed coaches after the Sydney Olympics, dumping Doug Frost for Menzies; he switched to the shorter sprints, which are more challenging for his huge frame, rather than persisting with the middle distances.

Out of the pool he has immersed himself in businesses including jewellery, fragrances, underwear and bottled water. But Thorpe has not competed for two years, having battled glandular fever, and in that time his weight has fluctuated dramatically, depending on the intensity of his work.

His old friend Grant Hackett, the Australian swimming captain, said Thorpe had shown before that he could have a break and return to win an Olympic medal. He said he could do the same for Beijing in 2008, despite missing last year's world championships and this year's Commonwealth Games. Thorpe has not swum in international competition since the Athens Olympics.

"There's no doubt if Ian wants to come back and swim fast and be as competitive as he was before, he can," Hackett said.

"But it's just a matter of whether he's motivated and enthusiastic about swimming, but I'm sure he can and I certainly think he's putting things in place to make sure that he can do that."

Thorpe told Salo he needed to escape media scrutiny in Australia and that before coming to the US he wanted to give up the sport. "He was close to quitting," said Salo, who coached the US Olympic stars Aaron Piersol, Lenny Krayzelburg and Amanda Beard.

"The Australian press and public is very much enamoured with him and most Americans don't know who he is."

But the former national coach Don Talbot said Thorpe had nothing more to prove. "I'm concerned that he's [not] going to be able to rediscipline himself because, I believe, he has too many irons in the fire."

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/thorpedo-out-of-shape/2006/08/03/1154198266857.html

Thorpedo enjoys Hollywood lifestyle
Friday Aug 4 06:08 AEST
Five time Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe is enjoying the good life in the US.

Instead of training hard in the pool during his three-month refresher trip to California, the swimmer is munching on pizza and hamburgers, Fairfax newspapers report.

He also has spent time socialising with his Hollywood Hills neighbours, actors Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams.

Thorpe has been spotted in the training pool only once in the past fortnight, the papers said.

The swimmer's hand, broken in a fall in May, is still healing.

His new coach, Dave Salo, said the Australian was in Los Angeles for a holiday in the hope of finding motivation.

"He needs to swim because he needs to, not because the whole of Australia wants him to," the papers quoted Salo as saying.

Thorpe has not competed for more than two years, and was forced out of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games earlier this year with glandular fever.

©AAP 2006

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=75367

Recently Grant Hackett has announced his engagement to his Girlfriend. I have always had a lot of time for Grant. He is a wonderful role model and a great Australian. He always seems to have a smile on his face and doesn't take himself too seriously.


Hackett's love goes distance
Sydney Confidential
July 31, 2006 12:00

FORGET about competing for gold - it was popping the question to girlfriend Candice Alley that got the butterflies swimming in Olympic distance hero Grant Hackett's stomach.

After an 18-month courtship, the champion and his singing sweetheart have announced they will race to the altar after the world swimming championships next March.

Hackett, 26, presented the 23-year-old performer with a 4.2 carat princess-cut diamond and platinum ring during a balloon ride on her birthday last month.

As one of the country's wealthiest sports stars he didn't skimp on the sparkler - which is believed to be worth $250,000 and one insider says is "much bigger than Bec Hewitt's".

But for all his bravado in the pool, Hackett said the June 23 proposal was "harder than swimming for gold".

"It was a big, big build-up," the world 1500m freestyle champ told New Idea.

"It was killing me. I wanted to tell the whole world but I couldn't. I could barely sleep each night beforehand because I was so excited."

The loved-up couple met at a swimming awards bash where Melbourne-based Alley was performing in December 2004.

"I thought the balloon ride was a great idea and I was really impressed he'd gone to so much trouble for my birthday," Alley said.

"Then, as we descended over a lake, he pulled out the ring and proposed. It was an amazing moment."

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,19963834-5007132,00.html

Thorpedo unfit? You're joking, says mum
August 4, 2006 - 1:23PM
"Ian doesn't do anything unless he is 100 per cent" ... Margaret Thorpe
Ian Thorpe's mother today hit out at a newspaper story which claims the Australian swimming champion "hasn't been training" and is "getting fat" while living in Los Angeles.
"(I'm) a little amazed by what's being said," Margaret Thorpe told ABC radio.
"(Ian) has told me he is training and he is very happy over there and that's what I'm going to believe.
"The only people who are going to believe them is the people who want to believe them."
Mrs Thorpe was speaking about a Herald front page picture story headlined "The good life catches up with Thorpedo".
The newspaper story began: "He munches on pizza and hamburgers and slurps cola. He hasn't been training. And Ian Thorpe, the five-time Olympic champion is getting fat."
Dave Salo, Thorpe's coach at the University of Southern California, keeps Thorpe's Australian connections updated on his progress during his planned three month stay in the US.
Salo told Fairfax that Thorpe had moved to LA seeking motivation and he believed the 200m and 400m freestyle world record holder probably would have left the sport if he'd stayed in Australia.
"He needs to swim because he needs to, not because the whole of Australia wants him to," Salo said.
"Otherwise, If he had stayed, I think he probably would have quit."
Mrs Thorpe today insisted her son was training hard at USC and was still looking ahead to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
She said constant media scrutiny of her son's life in Australia was one of the main reasons he'd temporarily relocated from Sydney to Los Angeles.
"That's right, he has gone over there to be able to concentrate on training," she said.
"Ian doesn't do anything unless he is 100 per cent.
"This is all leading up to Beijing."

AAP

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/thorpedo-unfit-youre-joking-says-mum/2006/08/04/1154198312148.html

Ohh wow pooor him.
Grant hacket is like 2nd best tho cuz thorpe is better than him. his hair looks so gross is that pic suzi

Gee, I see on the front page of the Sunday Telegraph, Ian Thorpe is being criticized for getting fat because of his new lifestyle over there in LA (see here: http://www.news.com.au/sundaytelegraph/story/0,22049,20186151-5001021,00.html) !!  

Thorpey is'nt fat, gee !! Who are those people that called Ian Thorpe, "fat" in the first place?

Everyone gains weight in their life, look at the majority of ordinary average Aussies here !!  

I have no idea why you insist in starting a new thread for each topic  when one is already listed -  its it you just seek the attention  or are you blind to see the search option at the top  

  http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/eblah/m-1154655179/

Quoted from ALLEYCAT

I have no idea why you insist in starting a new thread for each topic  when one is already listed -  its it you just seek the attention  or are you blind to see the search option at the top  

  http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/eblah/m-1154655179/

I did'nt know. Now I saw your reply, I am not blind, thank you very much !!  

ummmmmm  if you say so ......

Quoted Text

Sticky: eBlah! Notice: SEARCH before posting

Administrator Posted: January 24th, 2006, 9:46am

If you cannot immediately find an appropriate topic to place your post, please do a complete search of the board before posting a brand new topic. The search function can be found by clicking on the search button up the top ^ or by going to:

http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/eblah/b-tv/v-search/

Baby Mate is very very angry... all the time... which makes his avatar even funnier.

The ever controversial babes_mate...  

eBlah just wouldnt be the same without him...

I created a 'swimming and swimmers' thread 17 days ago to post on Ian Thorpe's weight issues and fitness level. I did not however want to start an entirely new thread just on him so made it so that anyone can post on any swimming event and/or swimmer. This encompasses all swimming and all swimmers! All you had to do was search for anything on Ian Thorpe, BM and you would of found the thread. Once more your thread subject 'Thorpey, fat? Huh?' smacks of sensationalism. I am merging this thread with the Swimming and Swimmers thread! Cheers Suzi... read my signature!!

Has Ian really lost his enthusiasm for swimming?

Thorpedo urged not to waste his talent

Olympic gold medallist Alexander Popov has urged Australian swimming star Ian Thorpe not to let his talent go to waste.

Thorpe has not competed at an international event since the 2004 Olympics, fuelling speculation that he has lost his enthusiasm for the sport and may never return to the pool.

The five-time Olympic gold medallist took a six-month break after the Athens Olympics to recharge his batteries and has also been hampered by illness and a broken hand.

Thorpe is widely regarded as one of the greatest middle-distance swimmers of all time after amassing five gold medals as well as three silver and one bronze medal during the 2000 and 2004 Olympics.

And Popov, who dominated swimming throughout the 1990s, believes Thorpe should mount a comeback because he would still be able to compete at the highest level.

"He will be fully rested and recovered now so I think he could be even better than before," the 34-year-old Russian said.

"He needed a break to sit back and relax. But I know he could come back and he would just win. He is that good.

"He has done so much. At his age he has the experience to be able to compete against anyone, no matter how long he has been out."

Popov, who spent several years based in Canberra, knows exactly what it takes to return to action after a long lay-off.

The Russian, a gold medal winner in the 50 and 100 metres freestyle events at both the 1992 and 1996 Olympics, missed a year of competition after being stabbed in the stomach during a street fight in Moscow.

Despite that horrific incident he was back in the pool in time for the 1997 European championships, where he successfully defended his 50 and 100m titles.

Australian head coach Alan Thompson has hinted that Thorpe may return in time for national trials in December ahead of next year's world championships in Melbourne.

Popov is convinced 23-year-old Thorpe could emulate his successful comeback and win against the likes of American Michael Phelps.

"It comes back quickly. If you have experienced it you know what it feels like," Popov said.

"I think he can get back into the groove pretty quickly. He is still training so if he decides to come back he can do anything he wants.

"It is up to him to decide what he wants to do. If he thinks it is necessary to come back he will do that. I hope he does because he is a great swimmer."

-AFP

http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200610/s1754191.htm

Thorpe wrestles with that sinking feeling
Jacquelin Magnay
November 21, 2006

IAN THORPE was wrestling with two options last night: follow his gut feeling and retire permanently from swimming or announce a withdrawal from the 2007 world championships with an attempt to keep going until the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Thorpe's confidant and manager, Dave Flaskas, spent three hours yesterday as a sounding board, wanting to make sure his client of 10 years was making the correct decision in wanting to retire from the sport altogether.

The five-time Olympic champion and multi-world record holder will not compete in the world championship trials in Brisbane on December 3, and will thus miss selection for the world championships in Melbourne in March.

But if Thorpe so desired, he still has sufficient time to get into shape for the Beijing Olympics - but only if he can put together solid and consistent blocks of training - something he has struggled with for more than a year.

Flaskas was encouraging Thorpe to be clear in his thinking, not wanting him to announce his retirement and then follow up with a possible comeback for Beijing.

Also at the crisis meeting yesterday, held at Thorpe's waterfront home in Dolans Bay, Sutherland Shire, was Flaskas's wife Michelle, who is a very close friend.

As revealed by the Herald in August, Thorpe has been battling motivation to return to the pool and has been uncharacteristically ill-disciplined about his training regime. He has already spoken to his family, his coaches Tracey Menzies and Milt Nelms, and his major sponsors about retiring.

Thorpe had been supposed to train at Caringbah pool yesterday morning, but when drug testers from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority turned up to take a routine out-of-competition sample, he wasn't there.

The drug testing was planned weeks ago and was part of a pre-championship testing blitz of Australia's top swimmers, a standard practice.

Another of Thorpe's managers, Mark Jones, said of the testing: "It didn't faze Ian, he is used to doing it, it is all part of being a swimmer."

The authority's chairman, Richard Ings, said that until an athlete officially notified it in writing about retirement it was "business as usual".

Thorpe stayed in his house all day, only peeking out at one point when Flaskas was at the door.

Thorpe has not been seen at the pool for weeks and alarm bells rang at the highest levels in swimming when he missed a vital training session with the Australian head coach Alan Thompson last Thursday. "He has spurts of just feeling great and feeling like things are going well and then he gets knocked back," Nelms said on Sunday.

The Australian swim team captain, Grant Hackett, said he empathised with his friend Thorpe after struggling with his own comeback from shoulder surgery.

"It was so difficult to go up and down the pool in training with no real light at the end of the tunnel - you wonder what you are doing it for," said Hackett.

"There are no easy roads. You either do the work or you don't."

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/thorpe-fights-that-sinking-feeling/2006/11/20/1163871343255.html

It's been obvious for a year or two that he has lost the drive to compete. He is the only one who can make the decision and no-one else has the right to say what he should or shouldn't do. Shane Gould says retiring when she did was a decision she has regretted ever since. As long as Ian Thorpe makes the right decision for HIM then that is all that matters.