Editing Ian Thorpe (section)

===2003 World Aquatics Championships===
{{MedalTableTop|name=no|header=[[Swimming at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships|2003 World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 200 metre freestyle|200 m freestyle]] | 1:45.14}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 400 metre freestyle|400 m freestyle]] | 3:42.58}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay|4×200 m freestyle]] | 7:08.58}}
{{MedalSilver | [[Swimming at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 200 metre individual medley|200 m medley]] | 1:59.66}}
{{MedalBronze | [[Swimming at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 100 metre freestyle|100 m freestyle]] | 48.77}}
{{MedalBottom}}
The first major test of Thorpe's partnership with Menzies came at the Australian Championships held in Sydney in March. Thorpe did not threaten any of his world records, completing the 400&nbsp;m and 200&nbsp;m freestyle more than two and one seconds respectively off his best. Despite defeating Hackett in both races to retain his titles,<ref>{{cite news|first=Stephen J.|last=Thomas|title=Aussie Champs: Jones Lowers Breast Mark Again, Thorpe Unhappy With 8th Fastest 200 Free|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/5172.asp|work=Swimming World|date=24 March 2003|access-date=20 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927195911/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/5172.asp|archive-date=27 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> he later admitted that he was "pretty disappointed" with his performances.<ref>Hunter, pp.&nbsp;326–327.</ref> When he tied with [[Ashley Callus]] in a time of 49.05&nbsp;s,<ref>{{cite news|first=Stephen J.|last=Thomas|title=Thorpe, Callus Tie in 100&nbsp;m Free at Aussie Trials|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/5182.asp|work=Swimming World|date=25 March 2003|access-date=20 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200626/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/5182.asp|archive-date=27 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> he was criticised by ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]'' which stated "The measure of Thorpe's sprinting ability is that he could only match the efforts of a virus-riddled Callus".<ref name="Hunter, p. 308"/> Thorpe found some relief by setting a new Commonwealth record of 2&nbsp;min 00.11&nbsp;s in his first long course 200&nbsp;m individual medley outing, the fifth fastest time in the past year.<ref>{{cite news|first=Stephen J.|last=Thomas|title=Aussie Champs: Hackett Swims 7th Fastest 800; Thorpe Breaks Commonwealth Record in 200 IM|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/5191.asp|work=Swimming World|date=27 March 2003|access-date=20 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200639/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/5191.asp|archive-date=27 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Thorpe attracted further criticism when he withdrew from the [[2003 Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool|inaugural Duel in the Pool]] with a medical complaint, despite travelling overseas for commercial and charity work.<ref>{{cite news|first=Stephen J.|last=Thomas|title=Thorpe Withdraws From 'Duel in the Pool'|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/flash-thorpe-withdraws-from-duel-in-the-pool/|date=28 March 2003|access-date=15 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130101839/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/flash-thorpe-withdraws-from-duel-in-the-pool/|archive-date=30 January 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Hunter, pp. 325–330.</ref>

Thorpe arrived for the [[2003 World Aquatics Championships|2003 World Championships]] in Barcelona for his first major international competition since Menzies' appointment under heavy media scrutiny following his non-improvement at the Australian Championships. On the first night of competition Thorpe defeated Hackett in the [[Swimming at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 400 metre freestyle|400&nbsp;m freestyle]] in a time 2.5&nbsp;s outside his world record,<ref name = "WC2003 1">{{cite news|first=Stephen J.|last=Thomas|title=World Champs, Day One Finals: Jenny Thompson Anchors US Women, Popov Anchors Russian Men to Gold in the 400 Free Relay|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/5638.asp|work=Swimming World|date=20 July 2003|access-date=20 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930154821/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/5638.asp|archive-date=30 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> making him the first to win three world titles in the same event.<ref name="abc career"/> After his relatively slow 400&nbsp;m, he was again under pressure in the [[Swimming at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 200 metre freestyle|200&nbsp;m freestyle]] after van den Hoogenband led at the 100&nbsp;m mark ahead of world record pace. Thorpe managed to respond and retain his world title,<ref>{{cite news|first=Stephen J.|last= Thomas|title=Phelps Sets World Record, Three Championship Marks Tumble|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/5653.asp|work=Swimming World|date=22 July 2003|access-date=20 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200447/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/5653.asp|archive-date=27 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> and gained some relief after his sprint training yielded his first medal in the [[Swimming at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 100 metre freestyle|100&nbsp;m freestyle]] at a global competition; he finished third in 48.77&nbsp;s.<ref>{{cite news|first=Stephen J.|last=Thomas|title=World Champs, Day 5 Finals: Two World Records and 3 Championship Records Set, Popov Upsets Hoogie to Highlight Day 5|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/5665.asp|work=Swimming World|date=24 July 2003|access-date=20 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930153928/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/5665.asp|archive-date=30 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> In all three freestyle events however, he had swum slower than his times under Frost. He ended his individual campaign on a promising note with his experiment with the [[Swimming at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 200 metre individual medley|200&nbsp;m individual medley]], setting a new personal best of 1&nbsp;min 59.66&nbsp;s to claim silver.<ref>{{cite news|first=Stephen J.|last=Thomas|title=Michael Does It Again, Destroys 200 IM Mark|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/5669.asp|work=Swimming World|date=24 July 2003|access-date=20 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200548/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/5669.asp|archive-date=27 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Thorpe again anchored the [[Swimming at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay|4&nbsp;×&nbsp;200&nbsp;m freestyle]] team to retain the world title along with Hackett, [[Nicholas Sprenger]] and [[Craig Stevens (swimmer)|Craig Stevens]], with a reduced margin over the Americans, who finished less than two seconds in arrears.<ref name="abc career"/><ref>{{cite news|first=Stephen J.|last=Thomas|title=World Champs, Day 4 Finals: Phelps, Aussie 800 Free Relay Take Gold; Kitajima Lowers Championship Mark Again in 200 Breaststroke|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/5660.asp|work=Swimming World|date=24 July 2003|access-date=20 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930154618/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/5660.asp|archive-date=30 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Michael Klim]]'s injuries left the relay teams weakened, with Thorpe anchoring the [[Swimming at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay|4&nbsp;×&nbsp;100&nbsp;m freestyle]] team to fourth,<ref name="WC2003 1"/><ref>Hunter, pp. 337–342.</ref> At the end of a difficult year in the water, his standing had fallen in the eyes of ''Swimming World'', who rated him fourth in the world. He was again named as Australian Swimmer of the Year, jointly with Hackett.<ref>Hunter, pp. 346–347.</ref>