L
Larry Weisentha
Guest
I am SO excited. Only two more days. I've never seen him
swim in person. Gonna have the digital video camera
fired up and stocked with tapes. Anyone who lives in So
Cal and misses this opportunity is truly nutso. Ian's
comin' to town!
>>>
From the Long Beach Press-Telegram:
>>>>
Long Beach is 'Thorpedo' alley this week
Aussie star heads the Janet Evans Invitational.
By Joe Stevens Staff writer
Eureka!
So this is why all of this "Thorpedo' stuff is attracting so
much attention.
Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe and five of his teammates took
another step toward the Janet Evans Invitational when they
charmed media members at a news conference on Tuesday. The
scope of the Janet Evans Invitational, which starts
Thursday, will include 20 countries and more than 1,000
elite swimmers from around the globe.
But even with all of the top athletes competing in the first
event of the 2004 Long Beach Aquatics Grand Prix, it became
obvious why the polished, smooth and charismatic Thorpe was
not only the centerpiece of the news conference, but the
event as well.
The 21-year-old Thorpe answered an array of questions that
could help those not knowledgeable of swimming understand
his place in the sport. In Australia, he has the celebrity
power of David Beckham or Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan.
Thorpe won three gold medals and two silvers at the 2000
Sydney Olympics. He draws so much attention in his
homeland that when he was disqualified in the 400-meter
freestyle in the Australian national trials and later
given back a spot in the event, it was one of the
country's biggest news stories.
"When it happened, I was trying to scroll around TV channels
not to see it, because I don't like watching myself on TV,'
Thorpe said. "I saw something, and our prime minister was on
TV. He was speaking, so I thought, 'Oh, I can watch this.'
But he, too, was talking about it.'
Even though the glamorous Thorpe will bring a heap of
interest, the 11th annual Janet Evans Invitational isn't all
about him. This will be the first, and only, time that
swimmers can test the new pools adjacent to the Long Beach
Arena before the U.S. Olympic Trials of Swimming, July7-14.
In past years, the event was held at USC. This year, it was
moved to Long Beach to be a part of the Aquatics Grand Prix,
which also includes national men's and women's water polo
events. To accommodate the competitions, two 50-meter Olympic-
size pools were constructed above ground.
With the Janet Evans Invitational leading into the trials
and then the trials leading into the Olympics, a feeling of
anticipation is among the Olympic hopefuls. When the event
starts on Thursday, that should quench some of the swimmers'
competitive thirst.
Until then, anticipation will remain, and it is no
secret that the Janet Evans meet is a prelude to the
Olympic Trials.
"I wouldn't read too much into it if the results are much
slower or faster than expected,' said Petria Thomas, who
won two silver medals and a bronze in the Sydney
Olympics. "I'm not one to swim my personal best in the
middle of the season.'
Members of Australia's swim team and Janet Evans gushed
about how impressive the pools, constructed by Italy-based
Martha Pools, are.
"The pools look great, and I can't wait to test the waters,'
said Justin Norris, a butterfly specialist for Australia.
Evans underscored how high the talent level will be.
"Outside of the Athens Games, there is no other place to see
world-class swimming than here in Long Beach,' she said.
There also is no other place to see the high-profile Thorpe,
who is not only the talk among his countrymen, but his
teammates.
"He's always had great poise, even as a 15-year-old,' said
Michael Klim, who will be competing in relays and is
Thorpe's former roommate. "He was always in control of
everything, and I wonder where he got that. It's not like
you're taught that it school. It's part of his character.'
All swimming eyes look to be on Thorpe, but he is used to
that.
"I don't feel pressure,' Thorpe said. "I never feel
pressure. I feel expectations.'
swim in person. Gonna have the digital video camera
fired up and stocked with tapes. Anyone who lives in So
Cal and misses this opportunity is truly nutso. Ian's
comin' to town!
>>>
From the Long Beach Press-Telegram:
>>>>
Long Beach is 'Thorpedo' alley this week
Aussie star heads the Janet Evans Invitational.
By Joe Stevens Staff writer
Eureka!
So this is why all of this "Thorpedo' stuff is attracting so
much attention.
Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe and five of his teammates took
another step toward the Janet Evans Invitational when they
charmed media members at a news conference on Tuesday. The
scope of the Janet Evans Invitational, which starts
Thursday, will include 20 countries and more than 1,000
elite swimmers from around the globe.
But even with all of the top athletes competing in the first
event of the 2004 Long Beach Aquatics Grand Prix, it became
obvious why the polished, smooth and charismatic Thorpe was
not only the centerpiece of the news conference, but the
event as well.
The 21-year-old Thorpe answered an array of questions that
could help those not knowledgeable of swimming understand
his place in the sport. In Australia, he has the celebrity
power of David Beckham or Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan.
Thorpe won three gold medals and two silvers at the 2000
Sydney Olympics. He draws so much attention in his
homeland that when he was disqualified in the 400-meter
freestyle in the Australian national trials and later
given back a spot in the event, it was one of the
country's biggest news stories.
"When it happened, I was trying to scroll around TV channels
not to see it, because I don't like watching myself on TV,'
Thorpe said. "I saw something, and our prime minister was on
TV. He was speaking, so I thought, 'Oh, I can watch this.'
But he, too, was talking about it.'
Even though the glamorous Thorpe will bring a heap of
interest, the 11th annual Janet Evans Invitational isn't all
about him. This will be the first, and only, time that
swimmers can test the new pools adjacent to the Long Beach
Arena before the U.S. Olympic Trials of Swimming, July7-14.
In past years, the event was held at USC. This year, it was
moved to Long Beach to be a part of the Aquatics Grand Prix,
which also includes national men's and women's water polo
events. To accommodate the competitions, two 50-meter Olympic-
size pools were constructed above ground.
With the Janet Evans Invitational leading into the trials
and then the trials leading into the Olympics, a feeling of
anticipation is among the Olympic hopefuls. When the event
starts on Thursday, that should quench some of the swimmers'
competitive thirst.
Until then, anticipation will remain, and it is no
secret that the Janet Evans meet is a prelude to the
Olympic Trials.
"I wouldn't read too much into it if the results are much
slower or faster than expected,' said Petria Thomas, who
won two silver medals and a bronze in the Sydney
Olympics. "I'm not one to swim my personal best in the
middle of the season.'
Members of Australia's swim team and Janet Evans gushed
about how impressive the pools, constructed by Italy-based
Martha Pools, are.
"The pools look great, and I can't wait to test the waters,'
said Justin Norris, a butterfly specialist for Australia.
Evans underscored how high the talent level will be.
"Outside of the Athens Games, there is no other place to see
world-class swimming than here in Long Beach,' she said.
There also is no other place to see the high-profile Thorpe,
who is not only the talk among his countrymen, but his
teammates.
"He's always had great poise, even as a 15-year-old,' said
Michael Klim, who will be competing in relays and is
Thorpe's former roommate. "He was always in control of
everything, and I wonder where he got that. It's not like
you're taught that it school. It's part of his character.'
All swimming eyes look to be on Thorpe, but he is used to
that.
"I don't feel pressure,' Thorpe said. "I never feel
pressure. I feel expectations.'