Thorpe swimming against time

Sydney: Ian Thorpe has received encouraging medical news as he battles to get to the starting blocks at this month's Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

The Australian swimming superstar has been troubled by a respiratory infection for more than a fortnight and has had examinations for chronic fatigue, glandular fever and whooping cough.

The setback has placed him in a race against time to be fit to compete in his home Commonwealth Games.

The five-time Olympic champion said the results of blood tests had showed a slight improvement.

"I'm getting better and it's actually the best I've felt in a while," Thorpe told Australian head coach Alan Thompson on Friday. "I think the antibiotics are starting to work."

Thompson said the 10-time Commonwealth Games champion sounded upbeat and encouraged by his improvement.

"He certainly sounded better and it was good to hear him feeling good about himself and his health, but we are far from out of the woods. I think the word is encouraging," Thompson said.

"(Thorpe's coach) Tracey (Menzies) and I will monitor his progress, together with his doctor and our own team doctor," said Thompson.

The 23-year-old swimming marvel is rated the favourite to win the 200-metres freestyle at the Melbourne Games, starting on March 15.

Thompson said Swimming Australia will not set a deadline for Thorpe's inclusion in the Australian team and Menzies said he would be given every opportunity to compete with his first race being the 200m freestyle on March 17.

Thorpe has won five Olympic gold medals, 11 world titles, including six in 2001 in Japan where he set world records at 200m, 400m and 800m, along with a record-equalling 10 Commonwealth Games gold medals, nine Pan Pacific titles and 18 national titles.

He has also broken 13 long course world records.