ANTHONY Howard was a disappointed young man last night after his dream of taking on the mercurial Ian Thorpe for a second time was dashed at the Manchester Aquatic Centre.

The 22-year-old Egerton swimmer came face to face with the Aussie swim sensation when he anchored the England 4x100m freestyle relay team on Tuesday night and would have loved a second chance against 'Thorpedo' in the individual event tonight.

Instead Howard had to settle for a frustrating ninth fastest time in the semi-finals, just one place away from the final.

"I am very disappointed," he confessed. "I was really pleased with my swim in the heats and thought if I did the same thing in the semi I would get through, but I didn't swim the first 50 metres fast enough.

"It is my own mistake. I wanted to go out relaxed and easy and come back strongly, but I was too slow. The last 50 metres was a smashing time, but I had given myself too much to make up.

"This has been a fantastic experience. For the place to erupt when you hear your name announced is something special and something I will never forget."

Howard had planned on retiring from competition after the Games, but his future plans are now uncertain.

He starts a new job in a few days and says he will sit down with his parents and see what is feasible.

"You never say never when it comes to competing and I have enjoyed it so much and to be part of the England team has been unbelievable. I will reconsider my future over the next few weeks," he added.