Ian Thorpe cuts short comeback after heat victory

Ian Thorpe made a successful but brief return to competitive swimming in the second round of the FINA World Cup at Sydney's Olympic pool yesterday.

Thorpe, swimming his first race since winning the 200-400 metres freestyle double at the 2004 Athens Olympics, won his 100m freestyle heat in a slick 47.87 seconds.

The Australian was 0.16 faster than his nearest rival, South African Ryk Neethling, but later announced he was withdrawing from the short-course final, scheduled for last night.

"Ian has not been well this week and missed a couple of training sessions and he felt it was better that he did not swim tonight," Australia head coach Alan Thompson said.

"The break has done him the world of good and he has come back with a bit of fire in the belly," Thompson said.

Thorpe's next race will be at the New South Wales state championships in December.

¤ Australia's Libby Lenton set a women's short-course world record of 1:53.29 seconds for the 200 metres freestyle at a FINA World Cup meeting at Sydney's Olympic pool. Lenton wiped 0.75 seconds off the previous mark of 1:54.04 set by Lindsay Benko of the US in 2002 world.