Ian Thorpe

View Ian Thorpe's Biography

"For myself, losing is not coming second. It's getting out of the water knowing you could have done better. For myself, I have won every race I've been in."

Full Name:	Ian James Thorpe
Nickname(s):	Thorpedo, Thorpey
Born:	October 13th, 1982
	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Nationality:	Australia
Status:	Hiatus

Ian James Thorpe, also known as the Thorpedo, was born on October 13, 1982 in Milperra, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. He is the most decorated male Australian Olympian, and was the most successful athlete at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. In his youth, Thorpe followed his older sister to the pool, where he promptly discovered a chlorine allergy. Only with the help of a nose-clip was he able to compete with his face in the water – and then the Thorpedo was born. Early international competition After outgrowing his allergy, Thorpe went on to captain the New South Wales team during the Australian Primary Schools Championships in 1994. In 1996, his sister qualified for the Atlanta Olympics, and their coach, Doug Frost, sent Thorpe to qualifiers in Sydney to give him a taste of competing under the national eye, but it wasn’t until he qualified for the 1997 Pan Pacific Championships in Fukuoka, Japan that Thorpe entered the international spotlight. Unfortunately, he had his appendix out two months before competition, which disrupted a vital part of his training season. He did not medal in his first individual event, the 200 free, however, he qualified for the 4 x 200 free relay, …

Former and Almost-World Record Holders: The Second-Fastest Performers All-Time

The list of 2nd-fastest performers all-time includes many legendary swimmers and former records that were once thought untouchable.

Epic Swims: Ian Thorpe Sets World Record in 200m Freestyle, Fukoka 2001

At the 2001 World Championships in Fukoka, Japan, Australian Ian Thorpe won gold and set a new world record in the 200m freestyle.

Swimmer’s Tribute To Gennadi Touretski

Gennadi Touretski was responsible for guiding the careers of some of the greatest swimmers the sport has produced, including Alexander Popov and Michael Klim.

Gennadi Touretski, Leggendario Allenatore Di Popov, E’ Morto A 71 Anni

Gennadi Touretski è morto a 71 anni. Nella sua lunga carriera ha allenato Alexander Popov portandolo a conquistare nove medaglie olimpiche

Gennadi Touretski, Legendary Coach of Alexander Popov, Dies at Age 71

Reports indicate that Touretski had a stroke, and was subsequently put into a medically induced coma, but unfortunately never recovered.

Epic Swims: Van den Hoogenband’s 47.84 100 Freestyle at the 2000 Olympics

Also known as the Flying Dutchman, Pieter van den Hoogenband earned his place among the greatest sprint freestylers of all time at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

SwimSwam Pulse: 46% Pick Men’s 200 Back As Next Super-Suited WR In Danger

Our most recent poll asked SwimSwam readers to pick between five of the tougher remaining world records from the super-suit era.

Dolfin Swim of the Week: Thorpe’s Legendary Week of World Records in 2000

Twenty years ago, Australian Ian Thorpe kicked off a new millennium with three world records and a 400 free that still stacks up among the best in history.

Men’s 200m Freestyle 2004 Athens Olympics Analysis

Ian Thorpe vs Pieter van den Hoogenband vs Michael Phelps in the 200 meter freestyle at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens…

WATCH: Michael Phelps Wins First World Title With 200 Fly WR In Fukuoka

Relive Phelps winning his first world title at the 2001 Championships in Fukuoka, breaking the 200 fly world record for the second time in four months.

Gare Epiche: La 4×100 Sudafricana Che Sconvolse Atene 2004

Gare epiche: La storica medaglia d’oro del Sudafrica alle Olimpiadi di Atene dl 2004 nella staffetta 4×100 metri stile libero maschili

Epic Swims: The South African Quartet Who Shocked the 2004 Olympics

Heading into the 2004 Olympics, the men’s 4×100 free relay was a hot commodity. The United States had swept the…

David McKeon’s Swim Clinic Raises $17,500 For Australian Bushfire Relief

McKeon was joined by the likes of Ian Thorpe, Cate and Bronte Campbell, Emily Seebohm and others as they raised money for bushfire relief.

Michael Phelps Oympic trials press conference (photo: Mike Lewis)

Michael Phelps “USOPC Non Sostiene La Salute Mentale Degli Atleti”

Michael Phelps rivela di non avere ricevuto aiuto durante il suo periodo di depressione dal Comitato Olimpico degli Stati Uniti.

Australian Coach Paul Frost Now Facing More Than 100 Child Sex Abuse Charges

There are now more than 100 charges against Australian swim coach and MasterChef contestant Paul Frost, the son of legendary coach Doug Frost.