Michael Klim To Add 100 Fly to Olympic Trials Schedule

Remember that guy? Michael Klim? Amongst the hysteria of Thorpedo fever, we can’t forget about the return of Australian 34-year old Michael Klim, who is one of the greatest relay swimmers in Australian history (and truly, relay swimmers are what they badly need).

Klim has been busy during his retirement. He opened a series of swim centers, among other business ventures, and served as the head coach of the elite group at Wesley College, his alma mater. He also had two more children (bringing the total to three) with his wife Rama, a Balinese Princess.

But now he’s back in training and shooting for an Olympic berth for Australia. Like Thorpe, his original plan was to focus on freestyle and earn relay spots. Five out of his six Olympic medals are in relay events.

But that other medal, a silver in 2000, was done in the 100 fly. And now, after about 8 months of training with coach Rohan Taylor, he is feeling that the butterfly might be in his sights as well. It was shoulder problems that contributed to his retirement in 2007, but since returning, Klim says he’s felt no pain, according to PerthNow.com, and is going to give the event a go at Trials in March.

His target at trials will be knocking off Geoff Huegill (51.83) or Sam Ashby (52.19), the defending top-two in the race.

As for his training, Klim will be headed next to Spain’s Sierra Nevada Mountains to participate in altitude training in the leadup to his return. He is eligible for competition on November 14th, after 9-months back in the drug-testing pool. That’s the day after the end of the 2011 FINA/Arena World Cup, which is where we’ll see the international debuts of Trickett and Thorpe. Klim will instead make his comeback two weeks later in Victoria, where he will be shooting to earn his Olympic Trials qualifying times.