Australia's greatest Olympian, Ian Thorpe, may be preparing to make a comeback for the 2012 London Games, according to a News Ltd report.
The five-time gold medallist is reportedly contemplating a return to the pool as a relay swimmer in the men's 4x100m freestyle, News Ltd reported on Monday.
The 27-year-old, who stepped away from the pool in 2006, is understood to have recently discussed his plans with Australia's current crop of leading Australian male swimmers, including Eamon Sullivan, and is believed to have said: "Let's get the 4x100 in London."
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Thorpe's manager David Flaskas did not rule out the return of his client.
Flaskas is quoted as saying, "I guess it's one of those 'never say never' situations."
'Good stepping stone'
Thorpe's former coach Tracey Menzies said Thorpe had not spoken to her about any comeback plans after reports Australia's greatest Olympian wanted to be in the 2012 London Games team.
"I think he's an athlete and if he puts his mind to something he can achieve that goal, if this is the goal he wants to achieve at the end of his career he will definitely do it," Menzies told the
Nine Network.
"The talk in the newspapers is that he wants to step on for a relay position first, I think that's a good stepping stone for him.
"It will be a lot of hard work, plenty of athletes will tell him that, a long journey ahead.
"He knows what he needs to do, he wouldn't be making these calls or making a decision to come back if he didn't know where he was at ... if that's what he said he's going to do."
