JUST WHEN YOU thought it was safe to go back in the water, Ian Thorpe is making good on his promise of a professional comeback.

With London 2012 on the horizon, the five-time Olympic gold medallist returns to the pool for the first time in five years at the World Cup in Singapore tomorrow, hungry to get back to his best.

After dominating at the Sydney and Athens games, Thorpe decided to hang up his goggles in 2006 but announced his comeback earlier this year, targeting the Olympic 100m and 200m freestyle events.

And, still only 29, the Australian says that his comeback is more or less on track though he is still a little bit shy of his previous best.

“I am on track and I’m swimming well,” Thorpe told BBC Sport.

“I have to manage my expectations though. I go from thinking I am one of the best swimmers in the world — but I haven’t competed in nearly five years.

I’m where I thought I would be [at this stage of the comeback], plus or minus 5 to 10% – but I won’t tell people which way that is at the moment.

First up for Thorpe is the 100m individual medley on Friday with the 100m butterfly event to follow on Saturday.

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