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Australian swimmer Thorpe yet to reveal coach

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-02-25 14:51

Australia's gold medallist Ian Thorpe waves to spectators during the awards ceremony after the men's 200 metres freestyle final at the Olympic Aquatics Centre in Athens, in this file picture taken Aug 16, 2004. Thorpe ended months of rampant speculation and announced his return to the pool on Feb 2, 2011, with an eye on making the Australian team to swim at next year's London Olympics. Picture taken Aug 16, 2004. [Photo/Agencies]

CANBERRA- Australian Olympic great Ian Thorpe on Thursday refused to reveal the identity of the new coach he hopes will take him through to next year's London Olympics.

Related readings: Thorpe ends retirement, looks to 2012 Olympics  Thorpe back in pool amid comeback talk

The 28-year-old Thorpe announced his return to the sport three weeks ago, and was on track to resume competition on Nov 2.

On Thursday, Thorpe left Australia to train in Abu Dhabi, and he does not expect to be training alone.

"I'll be training with other people. I won't just be there by myself," Thorpe told The Australia newspaper, before boarding a flight to his new training base.

"I've had a few swimmers, a couple of international swimmers and some Australian swimmers, that want to come and train with me. "

Earlier, experts including former national coach Don Talbot and Grant Hackett have expressed concern that Thorpe would fail in his comeback without a proper coach and training group around him.

Australian national head coach Leigh Nugent is overseeing Thorpe's program, but will not be on hand full-time because of his other responsibilities. He will join Thorpe in the Middle East next week.

However, Australia's greatest Olympian would not reveal to reporters who he has chosen as a long-term option.

While the five-time Olympic champion said Abu Dhabi would be his main training base, he said he would also be heading to Europe by the end of next month.

Thorpe won 11 world titles and set 13 long-course records before announcing his retirement from swimming in November 2006 after 10 years in the Australian team, saying he had lost the desire to compete.