Ian Thorpe has denied he’s received preferential funding treatment from Swimming Australia on the eve of his comeback to the sport.

Thorpe fronted the media in Adelaide on Wednesday morning ahead of his attempt to win a spot on Australia’s team for the London Games at the trials starting on Thursday.

Reports this week suggested some Australian swimmers were unhappy over the money SA was spending to help fund the comebacks of the likes of veterans Thorpe, Libby Trickett and Michael Klim.

Thorpe was immediately asked about his funding situation on Wednesday and stressed he had only received support for his training and preparations, although he acknowledged those costs were probably higher than most as he’d been based overseas.

“I haven’t been paid a cent. I think it’s been clarified by a number of people. What’s been reported isn’t factual,” Thorpe said.

“There’s been a number of athletes who have been supported by Swimming Australia, the funding that’s come from that is not dissimilar to what’s been provided (to me).

“I think it’s fantastic that I’ve been able to return to the sport and have received the support that I have from Swimming Australia.

“And for the benefit of the athletes that are here, I’m happy to talk about this honestly to know that there hasn’t been preferential treatment.”

Pressed on the question of some swimmers receiving more than others, Thorpe said that was not for him to decide.

“… It’s not for me to decide on funding. I look at the struggles athletes have had in all the sports across Australia.

“I know what I’ve had to do to prepare and I know different athletes have different situation that need to be addressed.

“We’re not all cookie cutter athletes and if we were we’d have a pretty average swim team.

“I’m grateful for the support I’ve had.”

Thorpe said he would not let the speculation distract him ahead of starting his campaign with the 200m freestyle heats on Friday.

“Distractions like this, for athletes are a very good learning experience because something like this pops up before every competition,” Thorpe said.

The 29-year-old denied he had been ‘foxing’ in a string of disappointing showings since returning to competition last year but was confident heading into the meet.

“I’ve been asked this by friends as well.

“There may have been a period when I first stared back, when I was hoping I might be able to do it (foxing). Frankly, no.

“I’m probably as confident as I’ve been in my preparation.”

Thorpe said the selection trials would be his first competition with a tapered preparation since he announced his comeback.

“I’m not sure how fast I can go at this stage,” he said.

“I’m nervous about the upcoming days.”

Asked if he could win the 200m freestyle, Thorpe said: “I’ll be trying to, I think I’ll have to.

“I haven’t swum fast enough to say that I can do that … there is a lot of things I have to get right.”

Thorpe said he would consider making the London team an equal achievement to making his first Olympics in Sydney 2000.

“It would be comparable to me making my first Olympic team,” he said.

“There will be a tremendous sense of relief when it happens.”

Thorpe reiterated he would continue swimming competitively even if he failed to make the Olympic team.

He will also compete in the 100m freestyle, with heats starting on Friday.

Earlier on Wednesday, head swimming coach Leigh Nugent admitted the cost of supporting Thorpe’s comeback was probably higher than other athletes because he based himself overseas.

“Yeah, maybe,” Nugent told 2KY radio.

“Ian can’t prepare really in Australia he just attracts so much attention, he doesn’t get left alone.”