Olympics: Champion falls in early

Ian Thorpe, 400-meter Australian swimming champion, world record holder and winner of the Gold Medal in that event at the last Olympic Games, will not contest the event at the Summer Olympics in Athens later this year.

The reason -- he fell into the pool before he was supposed to in the team trials in Sydney on Saturday night.

On the blocks ready for the start of his heat, Thorpe heard a noise and reacted immediately -- in a split second that could have been as fine as a dead heat winning margin -- he realized it was not the starter's gun and held the blocks to try not to go in but alas -- it was too late.

The discussion as to what can be done has extended from the talk back radio hosts to the Prime Minister of the nation, John Howard -- a freaky sports fan himself.

Callers have claimed that Thorpe must go in the event at Athens because so much taxpayer's money has been spent on developing the sportsman.

The Prime Minister said he would not comment as that would be taken as interfering with the sport no matter what was said.

The majority of opinion "down under" is that the second placed finalist, Craig Stevens, will withdraw from the event and make the 1500 meters swim his event thus making way for Thorpe.

However, one astute observer on talk back radio observed that the rules disqualify a swimmer for a false start -- which the swimmer must be attempting to gain advantage by starting early.

Thorpe, she claims, was not in the process of starting but in trying NOT to start when he fell in.

The protest made to Australian Swimming was dismissed but now it could be reconvened to consider the thesis as it certainly should have in the first instance.

Watch this space for the future of Ian Thorpe to defend his title at Athens.