The Hindu : Sport / Swimming : Thorpe's best is yet to come

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Thursday, Nov 11, 2004

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Sport - Swimming

Thorpe's best is yet to come

CANBERRA, NOV.10 With five gold medals at home and three world records in the books, Ian Thorpe saidon Wednesday he's confident his best swimming form if still ahead of him.

``I think the time will come where I feel a level of contentment, where I know that's the best performance that I can give, and I don't feel that I've been able to reach that yet,'' Thorpe, 22, told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.

``That's why I continue to strive to be able to get that sensation.''

The world champion said winning gold in the 400-metre freestyle at the Athens Olympics was the highlight of his career.

Thorpe, due to a false start in qualifying, was disqualified from the event at the Olympic selection trials in Sydney in March. He only had the chance to swim in the event in Athens when Craig Stevens gave up his berth.

``The 400 at the Athens Olympics, it probably meant the most to me of my races,'' Thorpe said. ``It's my proudest Olympic moment and probably the proudest moment in my life.''

Thorpe said he offered no apologies for protecting his private life from the public. He said he would never compromise his privacy because it was important for him to keep some aspects of life exclusive to his family and friends. — AP

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