Men's relays 'strong without Thorpe'
Head coach Alan Thompson says the Australian swimming team does not need Ian Thorpe to win a men's relay medal at the Beijing Olympics.
Veteran swimming coach Forbes Carlile on Thursday expressed his belief Thorpe had retired too early and should have stayed on to at least keep our 4x100m and 4x200m relay teams competitive.
"I don't take the line that we owe him a great deal, I think he owes Australian swimming a heck of a lot," Carlile said.
Thompson defended Thorpe's decision to retire, and said the next crop of male freestylers were capable of filling his void.
"I don't think we should be criticising young men like Ian Thorpe for retiring," Thompson said.
"Certainly I don't think we can rely on our stars to be with us all the time, it's up to us to continue to develop new stars and people who can follow on from these people.
"It means that all of our guys need to swim that bit faster to adjust."
After the breakthrough performances of Eamon Sullivan at last week's Australian swimming championships, plus the "re-emergence" of Ashley Callus, Thompson says the future is bright for the men's swim team.
"A lot of the young boys there continue to swim fast, and we have Michael Klim there as well with great experience to help the team along as well.
"I think we've got a good mix there and the team is going to move forward.
"I think by the time the Olympics come around they'll be young men, and I think we'll see great things from them."
Asked if the relay teams could win medals in Beijing in two years' time, Thompson replied: "I hope so.
"I think our relays are what we term medal chances. I think those chances will improve as these guys gain greater experience and maturity."
The 43-member Australian squad has completed a three-day camp on the Gold Coast to kick off its preparations for the world championships in Melbourne next March.
Thompson was particularly delighted with the enthusiasm shown in training, given the camp was tacked onto the end of the nationals in Brisbane.
The team will next come together ten days out from the world championships, which begin on March 17.
Head coach Alan Thompson says the Australian swimming team does not need Ian Thorpe to win a men's relay medal at the Beijing Olympics.
Veteran swimming coach Forbes Carlile on Thursday expressed his belief Thorpe had retired too early and should have stayed on to at least keep our 4x100m and 4x200m relay teams competitive.
"I don't take the line that we owe him a great deal, I think he owes Australian swimming a heck of a lot," Carlile said.
Thompson defended Thorpe's decision to retire, and said the next crop of male freestylers were capable of filling his void.
"I don't think we should be criticising young men like Ian Thorpe for retiring," Thompson said.
"Certainly I don't think we can rely on our stars to be with us all the time, it's up to us to continue to develop new stars and people who can follow on from these people.
"It means that all of our guys need to swim that bit faster to adjust."
After the breakthrough performances of Eamon Sullivan at last week's Australian swimming championships, plus the "re-emergence" of Ashley Callus, Thompson says the future is bright for the men's swim team.
"A lot of the young boys there continue to swim fast, and we have Michael Klim there as well with great experience to help the team along as well.
"I think we've got a good mix there and the team is going to move forward.
"I think by the time the Olympics come around they'll be young men, and I think we'll see great things from them."
Asked if the relay teams could win medals in Beijing in two years' time, Thompson replied: "I hope so.
"I think our relays are what we term medal chances. I think those chances will improve as these guys gain greater experience and maturity."
The 43-member Australian squad has completed a three-day camp on the Gold Coast to kick off its preparations for the world championships in Melbourne next March.
Thompson was particularly delighted with the enthusiasm shown in training, given the camp was tacked onto the end of the nationals in Brisbane.
The team will next come together ten days out from the world championships, which begin on March 17.
