Australian swimming star Ian Thorpe has announced he will train for the 2012 London Olympics in Switzerland.
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The five-time Olympic gold medallist plans to train with Russian-born swim coach Gennadi Touretski in Tenero, Ticino, for most of the year, while also doing blocks of training in Abu Dhabi and Australia.
The 28-year-old described Touretski as one of the best coaches in the world, saying he is “always thinking and is innovative with his training techniques, looking for improvements”. Touretski is currently the head coach at the National Training Centre in Switzerland.
Thorpe was the world’s most high profile swimmer until American Michael Phelps arrived on the scene. Last month Thorpe said he would be returning to competitive swimming after more than four years of retirement.
He broke 13 long-course world records between 1999 and 2002, winning three gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and two more in the 200 and 400 metre freestyle in the 2004 Athens Olympics.
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