Australian swimming sensation Ian Thorpe says he considered retiring after losing his enthusiasm for the sport, but has instead chosen to switch coaches. Speaking in Sydney Thursday, the 19-year-old said he was not enjoying training as much as he had in the past. The man known as "The Thorpedo" says he had to make a change or retire, and he was not ready to walk away from the sport.
After considering numerous possible coaches in a worldwide search, Thorpe chose 29-year-old Sydney art teacher Tracey Menzies. Menzies was an assistant to former coach Doug Frost, who guided Thorpe to 17 world records and three Olympic gold medals in his brief career. While some consider the move a gamble for Thorpe, who holds 200-meter, 400-meter and 800-meter freestyle world records, Thorpe is confident Menzies will guide him to greater heights. Thorpe described his split with Frost as amicable and said he had no complaints about his coaching. Frost had no comment.