Thorpe's fitness weighs heavily on Australian minds

SYDNEY, Aug 4 (Reuters) The mother of Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe has defended her son against reports he is overweight and lacking motivation to train since moving to Los Angeles.

A Sydney newspaper on Friday published a front-page photograph of the Olympic champion slurping on a soft drink under the banner headline ''the good life catches up with Thorpedo.'' The accompanying report claimed Thorpe had lost his will to compete at the highest level and was spending more time in the company of Hollywood actors than churning through the pool at training.

''Is this the beginning of the end of Thorpe's magnificent swimming career?'' the report asked.

But Thorpe's mother Margaret hit back at the newspaper claims, saying her son was in full training and preparing for next year's world championships in Melbourne and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

''I'm a little amazed by what's being said,'' she told Australian radio. ''(Ian) has told me he is training and he is very happy over there and that's what I'm going to believe.'' Thorpe is already recognised as one of the greatest swimmers of all time after winning three gold medals at the Sydney 2000 Olympics as a 17-year-old then another two in Athens four years later.

He won the first of his 10 world titles as a 15-year-old and still holds the world record for 200 metres and 400m freestyle but the constant grind of training has clearly taken its toll.

He took a year off after Athens then pulled out of this year's Commonwealth Games in Melbourne after suffering glandular fever.

His comeback was delayed by a broken hand before he announced he was leaving Australia to live and train in California in the hope of avoiding the constant media attention he receives in Australia.

Australia's head swimming coach Alan Thompson said he was confident Thorpe would be fit enough to contest the national titles in December, which double as the trials for the world championships.

''I haven't spoken to Ian but I've spoken to his coach Dave Salo in America and he's very happy with Ian's progress and he's working towards our trials in December this year,'' Thompson said.

Thorpe's friend and rival Grant Hackett, the Australian swimming captain, said he was also certain Thorpe would return to full fitness.

''There's no doubt if Ian wants to come back and swim fast and be as competitive as he was before, he can,'' Hackett said.

REUTERS PM PM1136