Olympic and world champion Ian Thorpe will defend his 400 metres freestyle title at the Athens Olympics in August after the withdrawal of team mate Craig Stevens.
Thorpe told a packed news conference at Sydney's Olympic pool today he was relieved to have been offered the chance to defend his title.
"I'm excited about swimming the event because I won my first Olympic gold medal in the event," Thorpe said. "I'm not worried about the pressure that comes with it, a little concerned, but not worried."
Thorpe's hopes of swimming the 400 appeared to have sunk when he was disqualified for a false start after slipping off the blocks during last month's Australian trials.
He lost an appeal against the disqualification but was thrown a lifeline when Stevens, who finished second to Grant Hackett at the trials, gave up his spot yesterday, saying he wanted to concentrate on his other events, the 1500 freestyle and 4x200 freestyle relay.
"I wouldn't have swum this race if I wasn't satisfied about the decision Craig had made and how he made the decision," said Thorpe. "I know Craig's decision was what he wanted to do, not what anyone else wanted him to do.
"I discussed with him what he had been through in the last month, and after that I thanked him for making the decision that he'd made."
The final decision came after Australian Olympic officials consulted their lawyers to make sure Thorpe was next in line and Stevens' management team negotiated an exclusive deal to make the announcement live on Australian television.
"I think the Australian public and the Australian media...applied a lot of pressure to both young men and to us as a sport," Swimming Australia chief executive Glenn Tasker said.
"The blowtorch was there and we've survived and what I think Australia needs to do now is get on with the things that need to be done."
Thorpe also qualified for the 100 and 200 as well as the three relays but the 400 is his best event and he is considered a near-certainty to win, having not been beaten in the event for seven years.