Was Stevens just being a loyal teammate? Or did withering pressure from the Aussie press and swimming world leave him with no choice? For once it seems no one is crying foul–including Stevens. Asked on TV if Thorpe had put any heat on him, he replied, “No, none whatsoever. He’s not the type to put pressure on anyone. The decision I’ve made comes from my heart.” The $45,000 the TV network paid Stevens for his story might have eased his heartache. But it’s hard to argue that Thorpe shouldn’t get the chance to race in Athens. He hasn’t lost a 400 that he’s started cleanly since 1997. He also holds the world record in the event. As for Stevens, he’ll swim the 1,500-meter free-style and the 800-meter relay–with Thorpe. In other words, his Olympics dreams still hold water.
