Thorpe expects failure

Ian Thorpe has admitted he is likely to fail in his bid to make the Australian Olympic team.

Five-time Olympic champion admits he is unlikely to make London

Ian Thorpe has admitted he is likely to fail in his bid to make the Australian Olympic team. 'Thorpedo' announced his comeback after a four-year retirement last year with the London Olympics firmly in his sights. But the 29-year-old, who already has five Olympic gold medals in his locker, believes the Games will come around too quickly. "The most realistic outcome of this is that I will most likely fail," he told Australian TV. "All of the expectation, that desire to see me do well, it exists for me in a way that it doesn't exist for other people." Thorpe claimed 11 world titles and 13 world records in his pomp but has found himself pinning his hopes on a top-six berth in the 100 or 200metres freestyle to earn himself a place on the relay team. "I wish I had another six months to do this," he said. "I wish I had more time to do it. I have to be swimming well. I have to be swimming fast as well in both of my races." Despite that Thorpe said he would not retire should he fail to make London. "It will probably be the last time I will be able to do this so I want to be able to make the most of it," Thorpe said. "So I'll probably swim for at least a year or two after the Games."