Thorpe disqualified from Athens 400m. !!

[Donny]

Thorpe disqualified from 400m trial

Fox


WORLD recordholder Ian Thorpe was sensationally disqualified from the 400m freestyle at the Olympic swimming trials in Sydney today.

The decision means the 21-year-old reigning Olympic champion will be denied the chance to defend the event at this year's Athens Games unless an appeal is successful.

Thorpe overbalanced on the blocks and fell into the water before the official start of his heat on the opening day of the eight-day selection trials.

He then got out of the pool and returned to the blocks with the rest of the competitors.

But an official walked over to his number four block and disqualified him as audible gasps were heard from the small crowd at the Sydney International Aquatic Centre.

Thorpe's manager Dave Flaskas said the Olympic, world and Commonwealth champion heard a noise before he fell into the water.

Thorpe has dominated world 400m freestyle swimming since becoming the youngest male world champion in the pool as a 15-year-old at the 1998 Perth titles.

He's held the world record over eight laps since August, 1999, where he first set it at the Pan Pacific Championships in the same pool in Sydney.

Thorpe has since broken the world record another four times, the last time at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games where he stopped the clock at three minutes 40.08 seconds.

[Donny]

Thorpe lodges protest
March 27, 2004

OLYMPIC champion Ian Thorpe has lodged a protest after being sensationally disqualified from the 400m freestyle at the Olympic swimming trials in Sydney today.

Meet officials were in the process of hearing the appeal and were expected to view television footage of the incident.

If they uphold Thorpe's protest, he will have to swim a time trial to qualify for tonight's final.

If the appeal fails, the world 200, 400 and 800m freestyle recordholder will be out of his best event at the August Games.

Under Australian Swimming's strict Olympic selection policy, only the first two placegetters at the trials in individual events are eligible to compete in those races at the Games.

Thorpe has dominated world 400m freestyle swimming since becoming the youngest male world champion in the pool as a 15-year-old at the 1998 Perth titles.

He's held the world record over eight laps since August, 1999, where he first set it at the Pan Pacific Championships in the same pool in Sydney.

In Thorpe's absence, Grant Hackett qualified fastest for tonight's 400m final in 3m46.09s ahead of Craig Stevens (3:50.44) and surf champion Ky Hurst (3:53.0.

[Donny]

Thorpe loses protest

Fox


OLYMPIC champion Ian Thorpe will not be defending his 400 metre Olympic freestyle title after his protest at being disqualified for a false start was dismissed this afternoon.


Thorpe appealed the decision but it was rejected robbing the 21-year-old of the chance to grab gold in the event he has dominated since 1999.

Thorpe appealed the decision after breaking in his heat this morning and earning instant disqualification from the event, in which he is the world record holder and had not previously been beaten in since 1997.

A protest was lodged with the decision upheld by a referee before then being put to Australian Swimming's jury of appeal.

They viewed television replays of the event and dismissed the appeal.

Australian Swimming chief executive Glenn Tasker announced the jury's findings at a hastily convened press conference.

"His swimming club lodged an appeal to the referee and subsequently dismissed the protest," Tasker said.

"Following that the club went to the next level which was to ask Australian Swimming to convene a jury of appeal.

"That jury has been convened and I have their decision now.

"Having read the protest document the response of the referee and having interviewed the referee, the competitor and the team manager the jury determined it would also view the broadcaster's video.

"Having done that it is our determination that the referee's decision is correct and a determination of fact, the protest is dismissed, so Ian's disqualification stands."

Thorpe's manager David Flaskas said his charge felt the competitors had been kept on the blocks too long and thought he heard a noise.

"Ian thought they were held a bit too long and he heard a noise, the audiovisual does not show that noise, so evidence wise it is a bit difficult," Flaskas said.

Flaskas said Thorpe was trying to come to grips with his horror opening day of the eight-day meet.

"He is obviously disappointed but I think it is important he gets refocused on the rest of the meet - he and (coach) Tracey Menzies are regrouping," Flaskas said.

"He has not said a lot, he is disappointed and absorbing it all at the moment and we cannot dwell on it and this is day one and he has major swims over the next few days and that is where his head has to be at."

[Donny]

What ??!!

Is this crazy or what ??

A swimmer topples off the starting blocks and is disqualified ? Our world champion and world record holder cannot swim in this event at the Athens Olympics ?

Am I reading this correctly ?

[JLC]

Its a disgrace if Thorpe doesnt get to swim at this event.

Sad sad day.

jlc

[Yobbo^LuKa]

Bloody dogs! Must be those Aussie haters...Dont blame em! Nobody was going to come close the Thorpedo if he had of swum in the race anyways!

[commonwombat]

What's happened is that FINA (the ruling body of swimming) has decided in the past 4-6 years to be absolutely zero tolerance with false starts and people going in early.

He may, or may not, have overbalanced but the Aussie officials are just going by the intl standard. Yes, folks, these are Aussie officials but they are running the meet to intl regulations.

He may still have a loophole. He probably already has an A qualifier on the books. If the 2nd place finisher in tonights final, probably Stevens, does not do an A qualifiying time then this person does not automatically get to be selected and swim the event in Athens.

Therefore, after the final they may well be faced with 1 automatic qualifier in Hackett but the 2nd placegetter not making the required time leaving a 2nd spot vacant and open to selectors discretion and a way-out.

[Donny]

Thanks, wombat.

I was about to address Luka's comments to assure him no dogs were involved and wouldn't even have been involved if the event was the 100 metre dog paddle.

The same AUSSIE officials would have overseen such an event.

[commonwombat]

Could well be right there, Donny. They have had a history of being total petty, pedantic "rules are rules" arseholes but they do want to avoid the very messy business of people appealling their non-selection, as in other sports.

As I pointed ou, there ARE ways out IF officialdom, coaches and swimmers are thinking sensibly, again not a given. NO 1 is as per my previous post.

No 2 extends a bit from ths. Let's agree that Thorpe is a few seconds ahead of Hackett, the no.2 in the world, and the rest are a few seconds behind him. The expected 2nd place man in tonite's final may or may not make the qualifying time for this event. He is however expected to qualify for the team as no.2 in the 1500 and possibly in the 4 x 200 relay.

It may well be that he may step aside from his position in 400 (his secondary event where he was a finals hope at best) to concentrate on his other events allowing Thorpe to take the vacancy, as Thorpe will qualify for the team in other events. No-one SHOULD miss out on selection if this is done.

Whether people are flexible or smart enough IS the question.

[Donny]

Wombat, I hope it is the case (as you say) where there's still a possibility for Thorpe to swim in the 400 metres freestyle at the Olympics but the wording does look fairly definite.

"If the appeal fails, the world 200, 400 and 800m freestyle recordholder will be out of his best event at the August Games.

Under Australian Swimming's strict Olympic selection policy, only the first two placegetters at the trials in individual events are eligible to compete in those races at the Games"

[London Dave]

Unless Thorpe tries a Tonya Harding style 'accident' on whoever takes his place Donny!

[labrooy]

I can understand the "zero-tolerance" stance with regard to false starts. However Thorpe literally overbalanced and fell off the starting block. He was not seeking to gain an advantage over the others (lets face it in most cases he could give then a half lap headstart!).

Common sense should prevail but we all know it won't. To think the best in the world can't compete because of petty officialdom really does stink!

[Joel]

Can I just say one thing...the media pressure on this other bloke is shocking. I can't believe they are running polls on whether he shoudl step down for Thorpe. I'm sorry to say, but it was Thorpe's stuff up, and unfortunately, that's what happens. The other bloke (is it Stevens?) is going to be hounded by the media if he doesn't step down, so that Thorpe can come into the team, and I think that is a joke. If the bloke steps down, he steps down, if he doesn't, he doesn't, but just let it be.

[commonwombat]

Too right Joel. The media carry-on is like a shark feeding frenzy. These polls and the nature of the questions make me sick.

I DO think that Thorpe should swim the 400 in Athens as he is the best option for the team. This is on the proviso that Stevens does qualify in the 1500 and is willing to step down.

This should however wait until after these trials are completed. It is a matter for Stevens, his coach and the team head coach.

By no means should he be forced out under duress. Whatever he decides should be respected and final but it should be made as soon as possible so both he and Thorpe's training be targetted towards whatever events.

[molloymagic]

Thorpe is on the plane to Athens!! He's in the 200 m. Just thought i'll let u know,even tho its not his 400 event,he can still win gold in the 200 event.
Hackett can win gold to u know