Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe, who is set to make a comeback, has started loving the sport again though he admitted he would probably have to break a world record to win a medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
Thorpe, who is currently training under coach Gennadi Touretski in Tenero in Switzerland, said it will require ‘personal best times’ to qualify even for national trials scheduled in March next year.
"I have to maintain my expectations because when I came to terms with this comeback, I realised that there is a chance that I will fail at this. I simply may not be able to swim as well as I used to," he said.
Thorpe further said that he is undergoing training not to make money but to scale great heights in swimming as has started enjoying the sport again.
"The one thing that has amazed me overwhelmingly so far is that I hated swimming when I gave it up, and now that I have started it again, I have found I love what I do. I have found simple pleasure in going to the pool each day," he said.
He has gained a few kilograms, after shedding few "vanity kilos", the Telegraph reports.
"After all of these months, though, I actually feel like I am in preparation for something rather than preparing for preparation," he said.