Australia head coach Leigh Nugent predicted yesterday that multiple Olympic champion Ian Thorpe would stun the swimming world by qualifying for the London Games next week.

The attempt by Australia’s most successful Olympian to earn selection for London will be the headline act of the national trials, which begin in Adelaide on Thursday.

Thorpe, 29, the winner of five gold medals at the Sydney and Athens Olympics, has admitted he expects to fail after a string of disappointing results since his comeback in Singapore in November.

Nugent was more optimistic and claimed Thorpe, who has entered the 100m and 200m freestyle events at the trials, was capable of rising to the occasion.

“I think with someone like Ian, the history he’s got and knowing his competitive capabilities, you could never write him out of the equation,” said Nugent.

“I’ve been around a long time. I’ve had a lot to do with Ian and with swimming at this level for almost two-and-a-half decades and with him, you’ve got to expect for him to pull something out of the bag.

“He just has that sort of ability.”

Thorpe was regarded as the greatest swimmer of his generation when he won his five gold medals at the Sydney and Athens Olympics. American Michael Phelps has since won 14 gold at Athens and Beijing.