THE coach who has steered Michael Phelps to 14 Olympic gold medals believes Ian Thorpe can still present a major threat to his charge’s chances of retaining his title in the 200metres freestyle at the London Olympics next year.
Thorpe yesterday announced his return to competitive swimming after quitting the pool at the age of 24 in 2006, claiming he had rediscovered his love for the sport.
The 28-year-old, who won five golds in a nine-medal Olympic haul, has been in training since September and confirmed he will be targeting a berth in the 100m and 200m freestyle relays.
However, Phelps’ coach Bob Bowman believes the Australian could well be a force in the individual events at the 2012 Games.
Bowman said: “He will be fit enough. I think it would be good for everyone if he could swim that.
“Michael likes to race the best and he is the best.”
It was Thorpe who triumphed in the ‘Race of the Century’ at the 2004 Athens Olympics with Pieter van den Hoogenband separating the pair in second, although Phelps was a teenager.
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