Swimming: Ian Thorpe happy to be back in the pool, and still excited about Rio 2016

The prospect of swimming at the 2016 Olympic Games continues to excite him but for now, Ian Thorpe is content to enjoy his return to the pool.

"I'm excited about the Olympics," Australia's most decorated Olympian said on Tuesday in front of over 450 student-athletes at the Singapore Sports School. "But I will have to make a decision whether my body can hold up for that long."

Now 30, the five-time Olympic gold medallist has yet to rediscover his best form since calling time on a five-year hiatus from the sport.

He first failed in a bid to qualify for last year's London Games, lost his A$100,000 (S$123,000) funding from Swimming Australia earlier this year and, most recently, sat out his national trials for July's world championships.

But Thorpe stressed that his is, for now, happy just being back in the pool.

"I'm exploring swimming, I'm exploring techniques - these are the things I really enjoy," he said.

"I swim now solely for enjoyment."

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