Thorpe may make relay team, says James Magnussen World champion James Magnussen says Ian Thorpe has an outside chance of sneaking a spot in Australia's relay team as the swimming great struggles in his London Olympics comeback, according to reports. Five-time Olympic gold medallist Thorpe, the holder of 13 world records, announced a return to the pool in February last year following his retirement in November 2006, but it has been a rocky road with modest times so far in his comeback swims. While Magnussen seems assured of his place in the Australian Olympic team ahead of next month's Games trials in Adelaide, Thorpe's hopes appear to be getting slimmer. "I think it would have to be said it's proven to be a lot more difficult than everybody first thought," Magnussen told The Sydney Morning Herald. I'm certainly not going to discount him before the Olympic trials but it has proven pretty much an uphill battle for him so far. I'm not sure what his expectations are, going into the trials, but I think he would be an outside chance of sneaking a spot on one of the relays teams, but that would have to depend on how his taper and training is going. Magnussen, who became a top favourite for the Olympic gold medal after he won the 100m sprint crown at last year's Shanghai world championships, also plans to make a reconnaissance trip to London after next month's Olympic trials. "My coach and I are planning a trip over to London just to get a feel for the set-up and have a look at the pool and get that image in my head," he said. I think it (the trip) is really important. Just to be able to get to London and to be familiar with the surroundings, not to have any surprises (at the Olympics).