Ian Thorpe back in training for 2004 Olympics

Australia's teenage swimming champion Ian Thorpe is back in the pool and in training for the 2004 Olympics.

The 18-year-old, who won three gold medals at the Sydney Games, says he's bored with the jet-setting lifestyle his Olympic fame brought him and desperately wants to get back to the daily grind of lap training. "I'm looking forward to getting up at four o'clock in the morning and not sleeping in until whenever I feel like waking up," Thorpe said.

"I'm back in the water and I'm starting all over again because I love doing what I do more than anything else."

Thorpe has been living the life of a pop star since his amazing performances at the Sydney Olympics, appearing on US chat shows and walking the catwalks of Milan.

But the Sydney teenager says he has had enough of the high life and is trying to refocus himself on his first love.

"I'm at a stage now where I'm incredibly unfit and I'm trying to get back in the water so I can get the best out of myself when it comes to the world championships next year and then on to the (2002) Commonwealth Games," Thorpe said.

"Then looking further down the track in four years to the Olympic Games so that I'm in a position so that I can race and hopefully race faster than I have before."

Demands on Thorpe's time have increased dramatically since his triple gold medal-winning effort and his every move is now scrutinised by an Australian public desperate to know more about their shy hero. In his first public appearance in Sydney since the Olympics, Thorpe had to dive into a shark-filled aquarium for a sponsor's publicity stunt.

Then, when he resurfaced, he was forced to defend himself against claims he had been offered a place at a Sydney University even though he hadn't finished his high school leaving certificate.

He dismissed the claims and went on to say that he wanted to earn his place in university like everyone else and was considering going back to school in 2001 if he can find the time.

"My priority at the moment is my swimming and everything else has to fit around that, no matter what it may be," he said.

Thorpe said he was unlikely to compete at next month's World Cup meet in Melbourne but could be back in time for the annual Sydney "Skins" event and a rematch with Dutchman Pieter Van den Hoogenband.