Prepare for a different Thorpe in Athens, says coach

Australia's triple world record holder Ian Thorpe will be a different swimmer at the 2004 Athens Olympics, his coach Doug Frost said on Wednesday.

Frost, 57, crowned earlier this week as international swimming's coach of the past four years, said Thorpe could improve on his one individual gold medal at last year's Sydney Games, which was in the 400 metres freestyle.

Thorpe, 18, won silver behind Dutchman Pieter van den Hoogenband in the 200 metres freestyle, and he also holds the world records in the 200, 400 and 800 metres freestyle.

"Coming into the next Olympics, I think we're going to see a much different Ian Thorpe and certainly, I know that I'll be a lot better for the experience of the 2000 Olympics," Frost was quoted as saying in The Age newspaper.

"I really don't want to set standards here that he's got to try to achieve but I believe the 100, 200 and 400 could be his if he really puts his mind to it in this period through the next Olympics."

The Australian teenager also won two relay gold medals at the Sydney Games.

Thorpe and Frost were attending a conference of international coaches on the Gold Coast in Queensland.

Thorpe told the conference he was "incredibly uneducated" after dropping out of high school to concentrate on his swimming.

"At the moment I have a French tutor. I am studying French with the intention of later in life becoming a doctor," Thorpe was quoted as saying in the newspaper.