Ian Thorpe announces his withdrawal from the Games.
Still obviously suffering from a flu-like illness that has derailed his planned return to competitive swimming, an emotional Ian Thorpe has announced his withdrawal from the Commonwealth Games.
Thorpe, Australia's most decorated Olympian, has been hit by a bout of bronchitis which has affected his training regime.
"It's been a very trying time for me, a very difficult time, realising that (competing at the Games) was slipping away from me," Thorpe said.
"It was difficult coming to the decision to not compete. But in the end it was a decision I had to come to."
Thorpe will be replaced in the team by Craig Stevens, who will swim the 400m and 1500m events.
An announcement will be made in the next 48 hours naming the swimmer to take over Thorpe's 100m and 200m Games events.
The Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Corporation has wished Ian Thorpe a speedy recovery.
“Like the rest of Ian’s fans in Australia and around the world, we share his disappointment that he will not be competing in Melbourne next week”, Games Chairman Ronald Walker said.
“We know what a difficult decision it must have been for Ian but we agree his health must come first. And if he has recovered sufficiently, we would like to invite Ian to be our special guest at the Games.
“We would also like to congratulate Craig Stevens on his inclusion in the Australian swimming team as Ian’s replacement.
“The Games are now just eight days away and we know Ian will be lending his moral support to his Australian team-mates in the pool and elsewhere, as they compete in one of the toughest swimming competitions in Commonwealth Games history,” Walker concluded.
Thorpe, five-time Olympic gold medallist, was planning on the Games being his first major international meet since the 2004 Athens Olympics and was aiming to become Australia's most successful Commonwealth Games athlete.
He has won 10 Games medals, equal with Susie O'Neill, winning four gold medals at Kuala Lumpur in 1998 and six gold medals at Manchester in 2002.
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