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Thorpe pulls out of Commonwealth
Australian swimming star Ian Thorpe has pulled out of the Commonwealth Games because of bronchitis and a chest infection.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 25, 2007 10:39 AM IST
Read Time:2 min
Sydney:
Australian swimming star Ian Thorpe has pulled out of the Commonwealth Games because of bronchitis and a chest infection. Thorpe had been planning to make his international comeback at the Melbourne Games, which start on March 15, after taking a break following the 2004 Athens Olympics. "I have struggled for the last three weeks to overcome my illness. It's very disappointing that I can't be part of the team," said Thorpe, the winner of 10 Commonwealth golds. Lingering problem Thorpe has been unable to take any prescribed drugs that could have cleared up the problem because the medication is on the banned list. The 23-year-old missed last year's world championships in Montreal and was eager to return to the pool in Melbourne. He had been planning to swim the 100 metres and 200 metres freestyle as well as three relays. Australia's head coach Alan Thompson, who had already lost the services of long-distance specialist Grant Hackett, said Craig Stevens would replace Thorpe in the Australian team. "The most important thing at the moment is Ian's health and I'm just hoping he can get over his bronchitis and get fit and healthy and go on to compete later this year," Stevens said. The 23-year-old was looking to become the most successful athlete in Commonwealth Games history having won ten gold medals at the last two Games at Kuala Lumpur in 1998 and at Manchester in 2002. Apart from winning 10 Commonwealth Games gold medals, Thorpe has also collected 11 world titles, including six in 2001 in Japan, and five Olympic golds. (AP)Topics mentioned in this article
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