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| Thorpe 'quit' talk gathers pace | Thorpe 'quit' talk gathers pace |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Five-time Olympic champion Ian Thorpe could be poised to rock the world of swimming by announcing his retirement. | |
| A news conference in Sydney on Tuesday was initially expected to confirm the 24-year-old Australian's withdrawal from next March's World Championships. | A news conference in Sydney on Tuesday was initially expected to confirm the 24-year-old Australian's withdrawal from next March's World Championships. |
| But reports now suggest he may use it to bring the curtain down on his glittering career in the pool. | But reports now suggest he may use it to bring the curtain down on his glittering career in the pool. |
| Thorpe, who has been hampered by illness and injury, has not competed at a major meet since the 2004 Olympics. | Thorpe, who has been hampered by illness and injury, has not competed at a major meet since the 2004 Olympics. |
| 606 DEBATE: Should Ian Thorpe retire at the age of 24? | 606 DEBATE: Should Ian Thorpe retire at the age of 24? |
| His long lay-off has affected his training in the build-up to next month's Australian national trials in Brisbane next month. | His long lay-off has affected his training in the build-up to next month's Australian national trials in Brisbane next month. |
| If he misses those he will be ineligible for the 2007 Melbourne World Championships. | If he misses those he will be ineligible for the 2007 Melbourne World Championships. |
| "He's had a long road back. It's been tougher than we thought, so we'll get together in the next 48 hours to make a decision," said Thorpe's coach Milt Nelms. | "He's had a long road back. It's been tougher than we thought, so we'll get together in the next 48 hours to make a decision," said Thorpe's coach Milt Nelms. |
| Ian needs to know where he is going to go for the rest of his life and have a plan in place Australian head coach Alan Thompson | Ian needs to know where he is going to go for the rest of his life and have a plan in place Australian head coach Alan Thompson |
| Double world record-holder Thorpe has won five Olympic gold medals and 10 World Championship gold medals. | Double world record-holder Thorpe has won five Olympic gold medals and 10 World Championship gold medals. |
| He has already said his long-term goal is to win another gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he would become the first male swimmer to win gold at three Olympics. | He has already said his long-term goal is to win another gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he would become the first male swimmer to win gold at three Olympics. |
| Thorpe recently relocated to Los Angeles and there have been doubts about whether he is still fully motivated. | Thorpe recently relocated to Los Angeles and there have been doubts about whether he is still fully motivated. |
| He missed the 2005 World Championships after deciding to take a year off and pulled out of the Commonwealth Games this year because of glandular fever. | He missed the 2005 World Championships after deciding to take a year off and pulled out of the Commonwealth Games this year because of glandular fever. |
| Australia head coach Alan Thompson says Thorpe needs to decide soon what his future holds. | Australia head coach Alan Thompson says Thorpe needs to decide soon what his future holds. |
| "I think it is a distraction for Ian - he needs to know where he is going to go for the rest of his life and have a plan in place," he said. | "I think it is a distraction for Ian - he needs to know where he is going to go for the rest of his life and have a plan in place," he said. |
| Thorpe's team-mate Grant Hackett, the world and Olympic 1,500m champion, said he would be surprised if Thorpe quit. | Thorpe's team-mate Grant Hackett, the world and Olympic 1,500m champion, said he would be surprised if Thorpe quit. |
| "Any athlete who has had an extended break has periods where there is a dip in motivation and others where they are highly aroused to compete," he said. | "Any athlete who has had an extended break has periods where there is a dip in motivation and others where they are highly aroused to compete," he said. |
| "If there was talk of retiring, and he said it tomorrow, I'd find it hard to comprehend. | "If there was talk of retiring, and he said it tomorrow, I'd find it hard to comprehend. |
| "I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago and he sounded very motivated towards Beijing. | "I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago and he sounded very motivated towards Beijing. |
| "But he's the only one who can answer those questions. I'm fairly intrigued and interested to see what he's going to announce, just like everybody else." | "But he's the only one who can answer those questions. I'm fairly intrigued and interested to see what he's going to announce, just like everybody else." |