Five-time Olympic champion Ian Thorpe will make an announcement on his swimming future at midday today in the Sydney CBD.

The 24-year-old who has not raced at a major international meet has been struggling with motivation, injury and illness.

He is almost certain to rule himself out of competing in next month's world championship selection trials in Brisbane which means he cannot be selected for the world championships in Melbourne in March.

The 200m and 400m freestyle world record holder is believed to be considering retiring from the sport altogether. He spent yesterday with family and friends while contemplating his future.

Dual 1500m Olympic Champion Grant Hackett and American superstar Michael Phelps have urged Thorpe to swim on to the Beijing Olympics.

“I would definitely be disappointed if I wouldn’t be able to race Thorpe again. It would definitely be disappointing if he did retire. We would be losing one of the greatest swimmers that we’ve seen in the world,” said Phelps who was beaten into bronze by Thorpe in the 200m final at the 2004 Olympics.

“I’d like to see him swimming fast. If there was talk of retirement, which there has been, I would find it hard to comprehend,” said Hackett who was defeated by Thorpe in the 400m in Athens.

Olympic legend Shane Gould who made a premature exit from swimming after winning three gold at the Munch 1972 Olympics when just 16 urged Thorpe to keep his options open.

AOC President John Coates said although he would love to see Thorpe in the Olympic team for Beijing the longer he is away the harder it will be and the superfish needs to be happy.

“He owes us nothing and is our most successful ever Olympian with nine medals. The overriding factor is that he has to be happy in what he's doing,” Coates said.

AOC