Thorpe set to take up backstroke

Australian freestyle swimmer Ian Thorpe is considering taking up a new stroke in an attempt to win a record seven gold medals at this year's Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England.

Thorpe won three freestyle gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and six golds at last year's world championships in Japan, but wants to try his hand at backstroke.

The 19-year-old has entered the 100 metres backstroke at next month's Australian championships in Brisbane and, if successful, may swim the event in Manchester.

"Ian has officially entered the 100m backstroke and the indication from his coach is that depending on how he goes, he might well pursue it at the Commonwealth Games," a spokesman for Swimming Australia said on Tuesday.

Australia's Susan O'Neill won a record six gold medals at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Thorpe won four gold medals in Malaysia as a 15-year-old but will be expected to better that haul in Manchester.

He will start as a strong favourite in the 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle individual events and will also swim the three relays, in which Australia are strong favourites.

Thorpe set a world record to win the 800m at the world championships but because that event is not on the Commonwealth Games programme, he is looking for another race to fill the void.

The Sydney teenager was an outstanding backstroker as a junior but gave it up to focus his energies on freestyle.

However, he gave an indication of what he is capable of when he swam the stroke in a relay at last year's Goodwill Games in Brisbane, becoming the fourth fastest Australian of all time.

The Australian championships, to be held in Brisbane from March 18-23, will double as the trials for the Commonwealth Games and the Pan Pacific Championships in Yokohama in August.