Ian Thorpe said he has no regrets over his failed bid to swim at the London Olympics.

Thorpe, 29, launched a comeback in February last year after retiring in November 2006 citing a lack of motivation. But he missed out on a place in the Australian team after failing to qualify in the 100 and 200 freestyle events at the Olympic trials.

Thorpe said he was unprepared for the shock of missing out on the London Games.

“I was in such a haze not realising what had just happened in missing out on the Olympics,” Thorpe said.

“I was asked the question: ‘How does it feel that you are not going to the Olympics?’ The reaction was: ‘Thanks, I hadn’t thought about it’. You see it hit me, that it’s like I didn’t plan for this.”

Thorpe said he was still glad he made the return to the pool.

“When I stopped I felt like I hated my sport at the time,” Thorpe said.

“I wasn’t handling everything that came along with swimming and what it had become in my life. The biggest gift that has come out of this (comeback) is that I’ve returned to my sport and I love it.”