Thorpe qualifies for Olympics in 200 freestyle

Ian Thorpe qualified for Australia's Olympic team on Monday with victory in the final of the 200 metres freestyle at the Australian…

Ian Thorpe qualified for Australia's Olympic team on Monday with victory in the final of the 200 metres freestyle at the Australian championships, two days after he was disqualified in the 400m freestyle.

An Olympic silver medallist behind Dutchman Pieter van den Hoogenband in the 200m freestyle at the Sydney 2000 Games, Thorpe won Monday's final in a time of one minute 45.07 seconds ahead of Grant Hackett in 1:45.61.

Thorpe, the 200m and 400m world record holder, will be unable to defend his Olympic 400m title in Athens.

The 21-year-old overbalanced on the blocks and fell into the water before the start of his heat in Sydney on Saturday and was disqualified under the one false-start rule.

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Hackett and Craig Stevens finished first and second in the 400m freestyle final on Saturday to secure their places in that event for Athens.