CANBERRA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Austrian Olympic champion Ian Thorpe has pulled out of next month's Mare Nostrum Swimming Series in Europe, Swimming Australia said Thursday.

    National head coach Alan Thompson said: "After talking it over with his coach Tracey (Menzies), Ian has decided that he will be better served staying in Sydney and training over the next couple of weeks."

    The three-meet series will take place in Monaco, the French town of Canet and Barcelona from June 3-11. Enditem