The Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe has ended months of speculation and announced his return to the pool, hoping to make the Australian team for next year's London Olympics.
The 28-year-old, quit competitive swimming in 2006 after a glittering career which inlcluded nine Olympic medals, five gold, three silver and a bronze, and 11 world championship titles.
He says he began training again in September and will concentrate on the 100m and 200m freestyle.
Thorpe says he asked friends to lie in order not to derail his comeback but didn't tell family members until last month.
