Editing Ian Thorpe (section)

===2000 Olympic build-up===
Thorpe started 2000 looking to add a third individual event to his Olympic schedule. He explored his options by contesting the 1500&nbsp;m freestyle at the New South Wales Championships in January, which he won.<ref>Hunter, pp. 175–176.</ref> Thorpe embarked on a European [[1999–2000 FINA Swimming World Cup|FINA World Cup]] tour to hone his racecraft, but this was overshadowed by comments made by German head coach [[Manfred Thiesmann]] accusing him of using [[anabolic steroid|steroids]].<ref name ="Talbot blood">Talbot, p. 156.</ref><ref>Swanton, pp. 25–26.</ref><ref>Hunter, pp. 178–179.</ref> Thiseman claimed that Thorpe's physical attributes were symptomatic of steroid use and that his ability to exceed prior records believed to be drug-fuelled made his feats worthy of suspicion.<ref name="ABC profile"/><ref name="Talbot blood">Talbot, p. 156.</ref> Thorpe's difficulties heightened at the subsequent German leg of the tour in Berlin, when a standoff over a drug-test arose when officials wanted to take an unsealed sample due to lack of containers. After the standoff was resolved,<ref>{{cite news|title=Thorpe's Stand Vindicated|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/1235.asp|work=Swimming World|date=3 February 2000|access-date=21 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070601162930/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/1235.asp|archive-date=1 June 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=s26>Swanton, p. 26.</ref><ref>Hunter, pp. 180–181.</ref> Thorpe proceeded to cut more than 1.5&nbsp;s from his world short course record in the 200&nbsp;m freestyle.<ref>{{cite news|title=2000 FINA World Cup IX: World Record For Krayzelburg|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/1203.asp|work=Swimming World|date=1 March 2000|access-date=21 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927195728/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/1203.asp|archive-date=27 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Given the context of the race, Thorpe rated it as his best-ever performance, ahead of his victories at Olympic and World level.<ref name=s26/><ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Cowley|title=Only now does he realise just how good he was|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/only-now-does-he-realise-just-how-good-he-was/2006/11/21/1163871405610.html|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=22 November 2006|access-date=22 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025060647/http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/only-now-does-he-realise-just-how-good-he-was/2006/11/21/1163871405610.html|archive-date=25 October 2007|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Hunter, p. 182.</ref> On returning from Europe, Thorpe faced further uncertainty until he was granted permission to wear his Adidas suit instead of the Australian uniforms provided by Speedo.<ref>Hunter, pp. 186–191.</ref>

With the past uncertainties resolved, Thorpe proceeded to the Olympic selection trials at [[Sydney Olympic Park]] in May 2000. He again broke his 400&nbsp;m world record on the first night of racing,<ref>Swanton, pp. 31–32.</ref> lowering it to 3&nbsp;min 41.33&nbsp;s to earn his first Olympic selection.<ref name="abc career"/><ref>{{cite news|first=Stephen J.|last=Thomas|title=Aussie Trials Day One: The Thorpedo Strikes Again|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/1455.asp|work=Swimming World|date=13 May 2000|access-date=21 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200725/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/1455.asp|archive-date=27 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Hunter, pp. 192–193.</ref> The following day, he lowered his 200&nbsp;m world record to 1&nbsp;min 45.69&nbsp;s in the semi-finals,<ref>Swanton, p. 32.</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Stephen J.|last=Thomas|title=Aussie Trials Day 2: Thorpe lowers the 200 free world record, Huelgill breaks the 50 fly mark|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/1456.asp|work=Swimming World|date= 14 May 2000|access-date=21 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200719/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/1456.asp|archive-date=27 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Hunter, p. 193.</ref> before lowering it again to 1&nbsp;min 45.51&nbsp;s in the final.<ref name="abc career"/><ref>{{cite news|first=Stephen J.|last=Thomas|title=Thorpe Does It Again—3 Days, 3 World Records|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/1457.asp|work=Swimming World|date=15 May 2000|access-date=21 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927195820/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/1457.asp|archive-date=27 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Swanton, p. 33.</ref><ref>Hunter, p. 194.</ref> His attempt to secure a third individual berth failed after he finished fourth in the final of the 100&nbsp;m and withdrew from the 1500&nbsp;m.<ref>{{cite news|first=Stephen J.|last=Thomas|title=Aussie Trials Day 5: Susie O'Neill Finally Breaks Mary T's 200 Fly Record|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/1461.asp|work=Swimming World|date=15 May 2000|access-date=21 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200620/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/1461.asp|archive-date=27 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Hunter, pp. 194–195.</ref><ref>Swanton, pp. 33–34.</ref>