Editing Ian Thorpe (section)

===2004 Summer Olympics===
{{MedalTableTop|name=no|header=[[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Summer Olympics]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metre freestyle|200 m freestyle]] | 1:44.71 (OR)}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metre freestyle|400 m freestyle]] | 3:43.10}}
{{MedalSilver | [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay|4×200 m freestyle]] | 7:07.46}}
{{MedalBronze | [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metre freestyle|100 m freestyle]] | 48.56}}
{{MedalBottom}}
After his feats at the 2003 World Championships, [[Speedo]] had generated significant media publicity by offering [[Michael Phelps]] US$1&nbsp;million if he could match Spitz's seven golds. Thorpe was adamant that this was impossible, and scrapped his seventh event, the 200&nbsp;m individual medley from his Olympic program.<ref>Hunter, pp. 349–350.</ref> In late March 2004 at the Australian Championships in Sydney, Thorpe overbalanced whilst on the blocks in the heats of the 400&nbsp;m freestyle and fell into the water, resulting in his disqualification and ending the defence of his Olympic 400&nbsp;m title.<ref name="abc career"/> This resulted in a large debate among the swimming and public community as to whether Thorpe should be given an exception to Australia's policy of selecting the first and second place getters, with [[Prime Minister of Australia]] [[John Howard]] describing the situation as a "tragedy".<ref>{{cite news|first=Mark|last=Bannerman|title=Thorpe's tumble divides nation|url=http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2004/s1076520.htm|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=29 March 2004|access-date=14 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104045942/http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2004/s1076520.htm|archive-date=4 November 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite the intense media spotlight, Thorpe managed to win the 100&nbsp;m and 200&nbsp;m freestyle events to ensure his selection for Athens. [[Craig Stevens (swimmer)|Craig Stevens]], who had claimed the second qualifying position in the 400&nbsp;m event, subsequently faced immense public pressure to relinquish his position to Thorpe, and later did so in a television interview for which he was paid.<ref name="abc career"/> This generated ethical debate as to whether Stevens' decision had been bought, and criticism against Thorpe.<ref>{{cite news|first=Mark|last=Bannerman|title=Stevens announcement raises financial questions for world sport|url=http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2004/s1095187.htm|format=The 7.30 report, transcript|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=29 April 2004|access-date=14 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023114624/http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2004/s1095187.htm|archive-date=23 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Hunter, pp. 354–359.</ref>

The pressure in the lead-up was further compounded by the media attention surrounding Phelps, who had decided that the 200&nbsp;m freestyle would be one of the events in his quest for eight gold medals. This prompted many media outlets to label the race between Thorpe, van den Hoogenband, Phelps and Hackett as ''The Race of the Century''. With the press spotlight growing, Thorpe tried to avoid media attention, resulting in a few terse media events.<ref>Hunter, pp. 377–380.</ref> Thorpe's increasing focus on the 100&nbsp;m event, coupled with the media pressure, resulted in speculation that he was vulnerable to Hackett in the [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metre freestyle|400&nbsp;m event]]. Thorpe made a slow start in the final, reaching the 100&nbsp;m mark one second outside world record pace. In a topsy-turvy performance at irregular pace, there were multiple changes of lead before Thorpe established a body-length lead by 350&nbsp;m. He was closed down by Hackett, holding on by only 0.26&nbsp;s in a time three seconds outside his own world record.<ref>{{cite news|title=Thorpe, Hackett quinella 400&nbsp;m free|url=http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200408/s1176720.htm|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=15 August 2004|access-date=16 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112000645/http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200408/s1176720.htm|archive-date=12 November 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Hunter, pp. 384–388.</ref>

With Klim recently returning from a two-year injury layoff, and Callus ill, Thorpe could only anchor Australia to sixth in the [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay|4&nbsp;×&nbsp;100&nbsp;m freestyle relay]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Stephen J.|last=Thomas|title=South African Men Take a Historic Relay Victory in 400 free- Smash World Record|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/7821.asp|work=Swimming World|date=15 August 2004|access-date=16 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927195858/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/7821.asp|archive-date=27 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metre freestyle|200&nbsp;m]] began with van den Hoogenband again attacking immediately, reaching the 100&nbsp;m mark more than a second under the world record split, with Thorpe half a body length behind. Thorpe gradually reduced the lead before passing van den Hoogenband in the last 50&nbsp;m to win ''The Race of the Century'' by half a body length, in a new Olympic record of 1&nbsp;min 44.71&nbsp;s.<ref>{{cite news|first=Stephen J.|last=Thomas|title=The Thorpedo Triumphs over Hoogie in the 'Race of the Century', Phelps Takes the Bronze|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/7839.asp|work=Swimming World|date=16 August 2004|access-date=16 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200646/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/7839.asp|archive-date=27 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Having achieved what had eluded him four years earlier, Thorpe reacted emotionally, immediately tearing off his cap, punching the air and screaming.<ref>{{cite news|title=Thorpe makes history in 200&nbsp;m free|url=http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/s1178025.htm|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=17 August 2004|access-date=16 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112170550/http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/s1178025.htm|archive-date=12 November 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The next day saw six years of Australian victory in the [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay|4&nbsp;×&nbsp;200&nbsp;m freestyle relay]] ended when Hackett, Klim and Sprenger had put Thorpe into the final leg 1.48&nbsp;s behind Keller. Thorpe gradually reduced the margin but was unable to pass Keller in the last lap, the United States touching 0.13&nbsp;s earlier.<ref>{{cite news|first=Stephen J.|last=Thomas|title=USA Downs Aussies in 800 Freestyle Relay in American Record 7:07.33 Italy Takes the Bronze|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/7865.asp|work=Swimming World|date=17 August 2004|access-date=16 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930154641/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/7865.asp|archive-date=30 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=US too good in 4×200&nbsp;m relay|url=http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200408/s1178894.htm|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=18 August 2004|access-date=16 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112015803/http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200408/s1178894.htm|archive-date=12 November 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Thorpe found himself on the other side of a close result when he qualified last for the [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metre freestyle|100&nbsp;m freestyle]] by 0.01&nbsp;s. He capitalised in the final by coming from sixth at the 50&nbsp;m mark to win bronze medal in a personal best of 48.56&nbsp;s,<ref name="Hunter-2004"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Van den Hoogenband wins 100|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/swimming/3577798.stm|publisher=BBC|date=18 August 2004|access-date=16 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515035309/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/swimming/3577798.stm|archive-date=15 May 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> making him the only person to medal in the 100–200–400 combination in Olympic history.<ref name="abc career"/> After the Athens Olympics, Thorpe took a break from competitive swimming, skipping the [[2005 World Aquatics Championships]].