Lesson 200: Thorpe shows he’s learnt from Sydney 2000

Ian Thorpe’s stunning victory over Pieter van den Hoogenband and Michael Phelps in the 200 metres freestyle final at the Athens Olympic...

Ian Thorpe’s stunning victory over Pieter van den Hoogenband and Michael Phelps in the 200 metres freestyle final at the Athens Olympics proved that he is not just a fast swimmer but a quick learner too. The Australian was beaten by van den Hoogenband in the same race at the Sydney Olympics but was taught a lesson that he has never forgotten.

Thorpe was the favourite to win in Sydney after smashing the world record twice at the Australian trials but finished second behind the flying Dutchman after a tactical error in the final.

As a middle-distance swimmer, Thorpe was expected to finish on top of van den Hoogenband, a sprint-specialist, but his confidence was shaken when the Dutchman broke his world record in the semi-finals.

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So instead of sitting back in the final and saving his energy for the last lap, Thorpe tried to match van den Hoogenband from the start, only for the plan to backfire.

The pair raced through the first 150 under world record pace and were dead-level turning for home, but the early speed took its toll and it was Thorpe who faded in the dash to the line.

Just 17 at the time, Thorpe was devastated by the loss but he learnt his lesson and has not been beaten over the distance since.

Their re-match in Athens was always going to be an epic clash but the inclusion of the American teenager Phelps ensured it would be the biggest race of the Games and no-one was left disappointed.

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Just as he did in Sydney, van den Hoogenband threw down the challenge to Thorpe from the start, again racing through the first 150 metres under world record pace. But the Australian was not going to be outsmarted again.

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