Thorpe says he has no plans for competitive swimming again

Sydney, May 3 (ANI): Five-time Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe has shot down media reports that he will make a comeback to the sport in time for the 2012 London Olympics.

Thorpe, 27, retired from the pool in November 2006 after battling with motivational problems as well as illness and injury issues following the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Thorpe's management team Grand Slam International released a statement today in which Thorpe denied News Ltd reports that Thorpe was eyeing a spot in Australia's 4x100m relay at the London Games.

"I have no intention of returning to competitive swimming," Thorpe said in the statement.

"My position at the media conference in 2006 announcing the discontinuation of my competitive swimming career has not changed. At that conference I said when asked about a return, that it was highly unlikely," the Sydney Morning Herald further quoted him, as saying.

"I really do appreciate the well wishes regarding a possible return to competitive swimming.

"But as I have just said, it's highly unlikely," he said. (ANI)