Who is Ian Thorpe?
Ian Thorpe is a retired Australian swimmer nicknamed the Thorpedo, who won five Olympic gold medals. He became a national hero at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where he won three golds.
Thorpe was born in Sydney in 1982. In 1998, at the age of 15, he won the 400 metres freestyle at the World Championships in Perth, becoming the youngest male individual world champion in swimming.
He was known for his long, powerful stroke and his huge feet, which helped propel him through the water. He set many world records in freestyle events.
Olympic hero
At the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Thorpe won gold in the 400 metres freestyle and in the 4x100 and 4x200 metres freestyle relays. The 4x100 relay win over the United States was one of the most memorable moments of the Games.
At the 2004 Athens Olympics, he won gold in the 200 and 400 metres freestyle. The 200 metres final, featuring Thorpe, Pieter van den Hoogenband and Michael Phelps, was called the race of the century.
Thorpe retired in 2006 at the age of 24, attempted a comeback before the 2012 Olympics, and later became a commentator and advocate for mental health and LGBTQ rights. He won 11 world championship gold medals during his career.
Did You Know?
Thorpe was named Young Australian of the Year in 2000.