THIS SCENARIO RECOMMENDS THE CASE FOR INCLUDING A DISCRETIONARY CLAUSE IN THE SELECTION CRITERIA IN CASE OF EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. IF THE BRIEF OF THE NATIONAL SPORTS BODY (WHATEVER THE SPORT) IS TO SEND THE BEST POSSIBLE TEAM TO REPRESENT THE NATION AT THE MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS (OLYMPICS OR WHATEVER) THEN THE LACK OF SUCH DISCRETION MEANS THE SELECTION CRITERIA CANNOT HELP TO GUARANTEE SUCH AN OUTCOME.
- COMMENT BY KITKAT
SYDNEY, March 29 (AFP) - Ian Thorpe will not seek it,Australian Swimming and the Australian Olympic Committeewill not intervene, but there is mounting pressure onCraig Stevens to give up his place in the 400 metresfreestyle at the Athens Olympics after Thorpe’s shockweekend disqualification.
Thorpe, the reigning Olympic 400m freestyle champion,world recordholder and unbeaten in the event since 1997,was disqualified under world governing body FINA’scontentious one-start rule when he overbalanced on thestarting blocks and toppled into the water in heats atthe Olympic trials on Saturday.
Then came the numbing realisation that with hisstumble Thorpe had lost his chance to swim in the finaland qualify for an Olympic spot in his favoured event,an outcome which has sent shockwaves throughout worldswimming.
Grant Hackett subsequently won the final at the trialswith Stevens taking second place to claim Australia’stwo positions in the 400m at the Olympics in August.
But the Thorpe bombshell has failed to subside andthere was speculation on Monday that his 23-year-oldfriend Stevens would nobly fall on his sword and givehis place in the event to the 21-year-old swimmingsuperstar.
Thorpe will not ask Stevens to step aside to allow himto swim his pet event at the Olympics, according toThorpe’s manager Dave Flaskas.
Flaskas said Thorpe had accepted the disqualificationand would not be asking his friend to make thatsacrifice.
They are great mates and it's been really hard onCraig and I wish everybody would back off a bit becausethere is no way Ian is going to ask Craig to stepaside,'' Flaskas said Monday. Officially, head body Australian Swimming are sayingthat Stevens won't be asked to step aside to allowThorpe to compete in the 400m freestyle. But AS chief executive Glen Tasker left open theprospect of Thorpe still swimming in his world recordevent at the Olympics, although not at hisorganisation's behest. I guarantee you there is no way in the world thatAustralian Swimming or Ian Thorpe would ask CraigStevens to stand down,’’ Tasker told ABC radio onMonday.
But Tasker conceded that once Thorpe made the team inthe 200m freestyle, in Monday’s final at the trials thenanything could happen.
Right at this minute, Australian Swimming is waitingfor tonight for the final of the 200m freestyle so Ian'sactually on the team, that's the most important thing inAustralian Swimming's mind at the moment,'' he said.Once he’s on the team anything can happen.’’
Once the team is selected, depending on what eventspeople qualify for, the head coach is going to sit downwith all of the swimmers and their coaches and discusstheir programs. I agree anything can happen but I think it’sactually speculation.’’
AOC chief John Coates admits Australia will not haveits best swimming team in Athens after Thorpe’sdisqualification, but said he will not intervene to givehim an opportunity to defend his Olympic title.
I am very, very sad for Ian Thorpe, but one suspectsthat Ian will still qualify in a number of events,''Coates said on Monday. Coates said it was not the AOC's place to interferein technical matters’’ like the disqualification of anathlete for a false start.
But the controversy over the Thorpe disqualificationraged on talk-back radio and in the letters columns ofnewspapers throughout Australia on Monday, with severalswimming figures suggesting all was not lost for theThorpedo.
Veteran coach Forbes Carlile said Stevens would beshowered with glory if he stood aside and let Thorpecompete in his place at the Olympics.
Carlile said he believed it was inevitable that Thorpewould defend his title in Athens, despite hisdisqualification.
Quite frankly, I don't think Stevens would be amedal chance in the 400m and very likely couldn't makethe finals,'' Carlile told ABC radio. Carlile said Stevens would make the team by qualifyingfor the 1500m and the 4x200m relay and should considerstepping down from the 400m. I feel that Stevens would cover himself with gloryshould he do this but it is huge pressure to put onhim,’’ he said.
Former triple gold medallist Dawn Fraser said sheexpected a compromise to be advanced for consideration.
``I think a door will probably open up,’’ she said onradio.