• London Olympics 2012

Thorpe prepared to fail at 2012

Ian Thorpe addresses the media © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: 'Nervous' Thorpe finishes second on return to pool
  
• News: Thorpe pleased despite final woe
  
• News: Thorpe ends exile from swimming
  
• Profile: Ian Thorpe

Five-time Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe has admitted that he is expecting to fail in his quest to add to that haul at London 2012.

The Australian swimmer, who ended his retirement from the sport earlier in 2011 in order to enjoy another Olympic Games, will return to the pool for a competitive meeting for the first time in five years next month, at the Singapore World Cup.

Thorpe admits he will be more surprised to end up on the podium than if he doesn't at next year's event - believing his comparatively short preparation time means he will struggle against his rivals, most notably American Michael Phelps.

"I'm more concerned about [being really successful] because that's what I'm not prepared for," Thorpe told the BBC. "I'm more comfortable knowing that, chances are, I'm going to fail at this. I've become comfortable with that.

"I'm more prepared to struggle through this whole thing and just enjoy it because I've never experienced that in my career. I don't think anyone's done this before with the time frame that I have. Realistically, it's probably too short.

"For some reason, in my mind, this is helping me. It's making it harder so I'm more focused."

That doesn't mean Thorpe hasn't set any targets for himself, however. The 29-year-old is hoping to at least return to the pool even faster than he was during his heyday.

"My goal at the start - and this will remain my goal through the Olympics - was to be able to swim faster than I used to," he noted. "If at any stage I didn't think I could do that, I don't know if I'd continue."

To help him in that aim, Thorpe is currently training in Switzerland with respected Russian trainer Gennadi Touretski.

"The decision to come to Switzerland was based on the coaches here," he said. "I think Touretski is the best sprint freestyle coach in the world. Given the motivating setting that I'm in, I realised that training was going to become a whole lot easier."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.