Australian Ian Thorpe sounded impatient on Thursday to battle it out with American Michael Phelps [ Images ] in what could be one of the highlights of the Athens Olympics [ Images ].

"He's not the only one who can swim fast," Thorpe said of Phelps, who has replaced him as the number one swimmer in the world in the run-up to the August 13-29 Games.

"There are also some Europeans but my name is Ian Thorpe and I will swim very fast in Athens," the Australian said at his team's training camp in the German town of Sindelfingen.

Phelps is hoping to better Mark Spitz's [ Images ] record of seven gold medals at a single Olympics by entering in eight events at Athens.

Thorpe, who already has three gold medals from Sydney [ Images ] four years ago, is chasing Spitz's career tally of nine and said he believed his rivalry with Phelps could even extend long past the Beijing [ Images ] Olympics in 2008.

"I want to be swimming for another 10 years at least," he said.