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File:Ian Thorpe.jpg
Ian Thorpe
Olympic medal record
Representing  Australia
Men's Swimming
Gold medal – first place 2000 Sydney 400 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2000 Sydney 4 × 100 m freestyle relay
Gold medal – first place 2000 Sydney 4 × 200 m freestyle relay
Gold medal – first place 2004 Athens 200 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2004 Athens 400 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2000 Sydney 200 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2000 Sydney 4 × 100 m medley relay
Silver medal – second place 2004 Athens 4 × 200 m freestyle relay
Bronze medal – third place 2004 Athens 100 m freestyle

Ian James Thorpe OAM (born October 13, 1982), also known as the Thorpedo or Thorpey, is a former Australian freestyle swimmer who is regarded as one of the greatest freestyle swimmers of all time. He has won five Olympic Games gold medals, the most won by any Australian and, in 2001, became the only person to have won six gold medals in one World Championships.[1] In total, Thorpe has won eleven World Championship golds, the highest number of any swimmer.[2] Thorpe is the only person to have been named World Swimmer of the Year four times by Swimming World magazine,[3][4] and was the Australian swimmer of the year from 1999 to 2003. His athletic achievements have made him Australia's most popular athlete, with his philanthropy and clean image earning him further recognition as the Young Australian of the Year in 2000.[2]

At the age of 14, he became the youngest male ever to represent Australia,[5] and his victory in the 400 metre freestyle a few months later at the 1998 Perth World Championships made him the youngest ever individual male World Champion.[6][7] After that victory, Thorpe dominated the 400 m freestyle, winning the event at every Olympic, World, Commonwealth and Pan Pacific Swimming Championships until his break after the 2004 Olympics.[8] Aside from 13 individual long-course world records,[9] Thorpe anchored the Australian relay teams, numbering the victories in the 4 × 100 m and the 4 × 200 m freestyle relays in Sydney, among his five relay world records.[8] His wins in the 200 m and 400 m and his bronze in the 100 m freestyle in Athens have made him the only person to have won medals in the 100-200-400 combination.[8]

After the Athens Olympics, Thorpe took a year away from swimming, scheduling a return for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. However, he was forced to withdraw due to a bout of glandular fever. Subsequent training camps in the United States were interrupted, and he announced his retirement from competition on November 21, 2006 at the age of 24, citing waning motivation.[10]

Early years

Thorpe was a large baby, weighing 4.1 kg and measuring 57.5 cm in length at birth. He grew up in a family with a sporting pedigree in the working-class Sydney suburb of Milperra.[11] Thorpe's father, Ken, was a promising cricketer at junior level, representing Bankstown cricket club in Sydney's grade competition. Ken achieved selection for Bankstown before his teammates Len Pascoe and Jeff Thomson, who became long serving members of the Australian cricket team.[11][12] A talented batsman, he once topped the season's batting averages in the latter stages of his career ahead of former Australian captain Bob Simpson. However, paternal pressure from Ken's father Cecil detracted from his enjoyment, and Ken walked away from the sport at age 26. Thorpe's mother Margaret competed for Bankstown in A-grade netball,[12][13] but Thorpe did not seem to inherit his parents' ball skills. His elder sister, Christina, had been given medical advice that swimming would strengthen her wrist, which she had broken in a backyard accident, so by chance, the five-year old Thorpe followed her in taking swimming lessons at Padstow swimming pool.[12][14] Due to his unhappy sporting experience, Ken Thorpe always maintained that enjoyment was the most important aspect of his children's participation in sport.[15]

As a young child, Thorpe was sidelined due to a chlorine allergy.[7] Because of this, he did not swim in his first race until age seven (at a school carnival). His allergy forced him to swim with his head out of the water; despite this ungainly technique, he won the race, primarily because of his significant size advantage.[11][16] Thorpe gradually overcame the allergy and progressed to the captaincy of New South Wales for the Australian Primary Schools titles in 1994. He subsequently justified his appointment to the role by winning nine individual gold medals in his age division at the State Age Short Course Championships in September of that year.[17] In 1995 he started his secondary education at East Hills Boys Technology High School,[11] switching coaches to swim alongside his sister under the tutelage of Doug Frost. It was a big year for his family, with Christina being selected for the national team to compete at the 1995 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Atlanta. Ian, who had now grown to six feet, competed at his first National Age Championships against 13 year olds, winning bronze medals in the 200 m and 400 m freestyle. He subsequently won all ten events at the State Age Championships later that year.[7][18][19]

National debut

Thorpe competed at the 1996 National Age Championships in Brisbane, winning five gold, two silver and two bronze medals.[8] His winning times were on average two seconds per hundred metres faster than those of the silver medalist, with his 400 m freestyle and 200 m backstroke times qualifying him for the Australian Championships, which were qualifying events for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Frost knew that Thorpe had no realistic chance of finishing among the top two on a distance, which would mean Olympic selection at only 13 years and 6 months of age, but sent him to Sydney to gain racing experience at the senior national level.

Thorpe missed selection as expected, finishing 23rd in the 400 m freestyle and 36th in the 200 m backstroke.[20] By the end of the year, he had grown to 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) and 90 kg in weight, and had also achieved qualification for the Australian Short Course Championships. It was another chance for Thorpe to gain national selection, as they were the trials for the 1997 FINA Short Course World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden. He qualified in second place for his first national final in the 400 m individual medley, but swam more slowly in the final to miss selection.

1997 began at the New South Wales Championships in January, where he finished second behind Malcolm Allen in the 400 m freestyle. His time of 3 min 59.43 s, took eight seconds off his personal best, and was the first time under four minutes by a 14-year old in Australia. Thorpe was ranked fourth among all Australian swimmers on the distance after this performance.[21]

Thorpe went into the 1997 Australian Championships in Adelaide as a serious contender for Australian selection to the 1997 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. With a top-three finish and a specific qualifying time required, Thorpe made the final in both the 400 m individual medley and freestyle. Thorpe and Frost decided to withdraw from the medley event to conserve energy for the freestyle final after injuries to the 400 m freestyle Olympic medallists Kieren Perkins and Daniel Kowalski. Thorpe went on to win bronze behind 16-year old Queenslander Grant Hackett and Allen, setting a new personal best of 3 min 53.44 s. The time was a new world age record and the first of many battles with Hackett.

Aged 14 years and 5 months, Thorpe became the youngest male ever to be selected for the Australian team,[7] surpassing John Konrads' record by one month.[22] Frost cited Thorpe's selection as a cause for his eventual focus on freestyle.[23] Thorpe continued his good form at the National Age Championships a fortnight later where he contested all twelve events, winning ten individual gold and two bronze medals, and setting six national records in the process.[12][24]

International debut

In June, two months before the 1997 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, Thorpe required an appendix operation, causing him to miss two weeks of training.[25] With the absence of qualification rules for specific events in Fukuoka, Thorpe opted to register in the 200 m freestyle and butterfly as well as the 400 m individual medley and freestyle. He came fourth in his heat of the 200 m freestyle after setting another personal best of 1 min 51.46 s. Despite his failure to qualify for the final, he earnt selection for the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay team. There he combined with Michael Klim, Ian van der Wal and Hackett to claim silver, making him the youngest ever Pan Pacific medalist. Thorpe then qualified for his first individual final at international level in the 400 m freestyle, proceeding to come from fifth at the 300 m mark to claim silver behind Hackett in a time of 3 min 49.64 s.[7][26] His finishing burst was to become a trademark, and his time, which ranked him third in the world would have given him silver at the Atlanta Olympics.[12][27] In October 1997, a few days before his fifteenth birthday, Thorpe competed in qualifying trials in Brisbane for the 1998 World Aquatics Championships. Thorpe gained selection for the Championships in Perth, Western Australia in January by finishing fourth and second respectively in the 200 m and 400 m freestyle. He continued his improvement by setting new personal best times in both events.[28]

1998 World Aquatics Championships

Template:MedalTopWC

|- ! colspan="3" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;background-color:#eeeeee;color:inherit;" class="adr" | Representing  Australia

|- ! colspan="3" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;background-color:#eeeeee;color:inherit;" | 1998 Perth - Men's Swimming

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 400 m freestyle|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 3 min 46.29 s

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 4 × 200 m freestyle relay|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 7 min 12.45 s |} Thorpe's first international appearance on his home soil, at the 1998 World Championships in Perth, began with the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay. Thorpe secured a position for the team after posting a time of 1 min 48.85 s with a flying start in the heats.In the final, Klim, who had earlier become the 200 m freestyle world champion, developed a lead which Hackett maintained, passing a half-body-length lead over the Americans. Thorpe broke away from 200 m butterfly Olympic champion, Tom Malchow, to set a split time of 1 min 47.67 s, the same as Klim's winning time in the 200 m final. By the end of Thorpe's leg, Australia were two seconds ahead of the world record pace, and three seconds ahead of the Americans. Although anchorman Kowalski finished half a second outside the world record, it was the first time that Australia had won the event at global level since 1956.[8] Having secured his first world title, Thorpe went into the 400 m final ranked fourth in the world, behind Emiliano Brembilla, Hackett and Massimiliano Rosolino of Italy. Hackett lead from the outset, establishing a comfortable 2.29 s lead over Thorpe by the 300 m mark. Although Thorpe reduced the margin to 1.53 s at the 350 m mark, Hackett was still on course for victory until Thorpe gained 1.68 s in the last 50 m to pass Hackett on the final stroke. Thorpe's time of 3 m 46.29 s was the fourth fastest in history and made him the youngest ever male individual world champion.[7][26][29]

File:Ian Thorpe Perth.jpg
Thorpe celebrates becoming the youngest ever male world champion.

As a result of the media attention generated by his win on home soil, Thorpe received multiple offers for television commercials and was mobbed by autograph hunters. He became a high-profile supporter of the Children's Cancer Institute, after his sister Christina's brother-in-law to be became gravely ill with the disease. After the World Championships, Thorpe announced that he would complete his Year 10 studies by correspondence, an announcement that attracted public criticism. He cited disappointment after his grades had deteriorated due to the burden of his international swimming commitments in 1997. Sporting and commercial commitments were only to increase as his career developed, leading to his education finishing at Year 10.[30]

1998 Commonwealth Games

See also: 1998 Commonwealth Games

Template:MedalTopCG

|- ! colspan="3" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;background-color:#eeeeee;color:inherit;" class="adr" | Representing  Australia

|- ! colspan="3" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;background-color:#eeeeee;color:inherit;" | 1998 Kuala Lumpur - Men's Swimming

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 400 m freestyle|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 3 min 44.35 s

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 200 m freestyle|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 1 min 46.70 s

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 4 × 200 m freestyle relay|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 7 min 11.86 s (WR)

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 4 × 100 m freestyle relay|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 3 min 17.83 s |} Thorpe returned to the water in March at the Australian Championships in Melbourne, which were selection trials for the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia. Thorpe's improvement continued when he defeated world champion Klim in the 200 m freestyle in 1 min 47.24 s, faster than Klim's World Championship winning time two months earlier. Despite trailing by over a body-length at the 150 m mark, Thorpe accelerated past Klim in the last 50 m to post a time that was more than a second faster than his effort in Perth. His effort was a Commonwealth record and secured Thorpe's first national title. He then claimed the 400 m freestyle title from Hackett and clocked 50.36 s in the 100 m freestyle. His time earned silver in his first 100 m race at the national level, gaining him Commonwealth selection in three individual events.[31] He went on the European summer tour to compete in the Mare Nostrum series, complementing his Australian success by winning the 200-400 m double in all three meetings at Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Canet.[32]

Thorpe's rise continued when the Australians arrived in Kuala Lumpur during September for the Commonwealth Games. Thorpe's first event was the 200 m freestyle, where he lead throughout to record a time of 1 min 46.70 s, just one hundredth outside Giorgio Lamberti's world record. He then combined with Klim, Kowalski and Matt Dunn in the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay to break the world record of the Unified Team set at the 1992 Summer Olympics by 0.09 s.[33] Thorpe's run ended when a personal best of 50.21 s in the 100 m freestyle was only sufficient for fourth place, but he returned to victory with the 4 × 100 m freestyle relay team. He claimed a fourth gold in the 400 m freestyle, setting another personal best of 3 min 44.35 s, just 0.55 s slower than Kieren Perkins' 1994 mark (regarded by some as the greatest swim in history).[8][34][7][35]

Thorpe left school at the end of year after completing Year 10. His decision caused consternation amongst those who believed that concentrating on swimming alone would be detrimental, with Stephen Holland stating "If this kid just does swimming and nothing else, he won't last beyond the Sydney Olympics". Holland himself had broken world records since the age of 15 and was expected to win the 1500 m freestyle at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, but retired from the sport in despair after concentrating only on swimming and failing to win. Thorpe disagreed, pointing to his informal search for knowledge using books and the internet, stating that "Swimming is a small part of my life". He eventually sat for his School Certificate on a flight to a FINA World Cup meet in 1999, meticulously supervised by former school teacher and Australian head coach Don Talbot. At the end of the year, Thorpe's impact in the swimming community was acknowledged when he became the youngest male swimmer to be named by Swimming World magazine as the World Swimmer of the Year.[36]

1999 Pan Pacific Championships

1999 began with heavy media expectations that Thorpe would inevitably break both 200 m and 400 m world records, given his continuing physical growth. The first opportunity came in late March at the 1999 Australian Championships in Brisbane, which doubled as a selection event for the 1999 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. Thorpe again swam in the 400 m with his usual tactic of kicking away from Hackett in the last 150 m, but Perkins' record eluded him, this time by just 0.05 s. Hackett, who was still hurting after being dropped from the world-record breaking relay team the previous year, turned the tables in the 200 m event, passing Thorpe in the final 50 m to win Thorpe's title.[26] Although both were outside Lamberti's mark, Hackett went on to break it the following night in a relay event.[37] Thorpe finished the Championships by continuing his improvement in the 100 m freestyle, posting a time of 49.98 s, his first under the 50 s barrier. The Australians immediately travelled onto Hong Kong for the 1999 FINA Short Course World Championships, where Thorpe broke Lamberti's nine-year-old world record in the 200 m freestyle, the oldest world record. However, Hackett again interrupted his winning streak by relegating him to silver in the 400 m event, cutting 5 s from the time Thorpe had set the previous year.[7][38]

Template:MedalTopPP

|- ! colspan="3" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;background-color:#eeeeee;color:inherit;" class="adr" | Representing  Australia

|- ! colspan="3" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;background-color:#eeeeee;color:inherit;" | 1999 Sydney - Men's Swimming

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 400 m freestyle|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 3 min 41.83 s (WR)

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 200 m freestyle|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 1 min 46.00 s (WR)

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 4 × 200 m freestyle relay|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 7 min 08.70 s (WR)

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 4 × 100 m freestyle relay|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 3 min 16.08 s |}

The 1999 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships were held in August 1999 at Sydney Olympic Park, and were viewed as a rehearsal for the 2000 Summer Olympics to be held in the same venue with an identical schedule. With Thorpe expected to deliver world records, it was the first time that the event was shown live on Australian television. It was Thorpe's first international meet in his home town. The opening night saw him pitted against Hackett and South Africa's Ryk Neethling in the 400 m freestyle final. The race began steadily with the trio reaching the 200 m mark in a group, on the world record pace. Thereafter, Thorpe accelerated away, taking a full body length lead in the next 40 m, and recording a split time 1.86 s ahead of world-record pace at 300 m. He extended his lead to four body lengths by the 350 m mark and finished in a time of 3 min 41.83 s, cutting almost two seconds from the world record,[8] and covering the second half in almost the same time as the first.[39] Talbot reacted to the performance by dubbing Thorpe as "the greatest swimmer we've [Australia] ever had", whilst four-time American Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines, commentating for NBC said "..he went into a balls-out sprint at at 250 - and I have never seen anything like that...I have been around swimming a long time and it's the most amazing swim I've ever seen, hands down." A formula used by the International Swimming Statisticians Association to compare world records in different events gave his performance the highest score of all current world records. Thorpe promptly donated his A$25,000 bonus for being the first person to break a world record in the pool to charity.[7][2] Later the same night, Thorpe anchored the Australians to a historic victory in the 4 × 100 m freestyle final, the first time the United States had been defeated in the event. After diving into the pool an arm's length ahead of Jason Lezak, he pulled away to set an Australian record relay split of 48.55 s. Even taking into account a 0.6-0.7 s for a flying relay start, his split time was almost 1 s faster than his individual best of 49.98 s.[39] It was to be the first of many occasions in which he would anchor the Australian relay teams to victory over the Americans, with splits consistently faster than his equivalent individual times. The following night, in the semi-finals of the 200 m freestyle, Thorpe broke Hackett's world record by 0.33 s, clocking 1 min 46.34 s.[8][40] The next day, in the final he again broke the record, lowering it to 1 min 46.0 s.[8][41] He finished his competition by leading off the 4 × 200 m freestyle team with Klim, Hackett and Bill Kirby to victory over the United States. Their time of 7 min 08.70 s was a new world record, cutting more than three seconds from their previous record to complete Thorpe's fourth world record in four nights.[7][8][26][42][43]

Immediately after the Pan Pacific Championships, Thorpe's management announced his signing to Adidas for an undisclosed six-figure sum, stating that he would race in their new bodysuit. This presented a dilemma, as the national team was sponsored and wore outfits designed by Speedo, leading to months of protracted discussions and uncertainty.[44] To compound his commercial difficulties, Thorpe had a uncertain end to the sporting year when, in October, he broke a bone in his ankle whilst jogging.[45] However his performance throughout the year were recognised when he was again named as the World Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World, and by Swimming Australia as its Swimmer of the Year. In a wider arena, he was named Young Australian of the Year, ABC Sports Star of the Year, and Male Athlete of the Year at the Australian Sports Awards.[7][46][47]

2000 Olympic build-up

Thorpe started 2000 looking to add a third individual event to his Olympic schedule. He explored his options by contesting the 1500 m freestyle at the New South Wales Championships in January, which he won. He then embarked on a European FINA World Cup tour in order to hone his racecraft, but this was overshadowed by comments made by German head coach Manfred Thiesmann. Thiesmann implied that Thorpe was using steroids, stating "We all know Lamberti was pumped up and his times stood for ages, but Thorpe is not only passing them - he's passing them by seconds".[48] The Australian delegation pointed to Thorpe's clean record, while Swimming World editor-in-chief, Phillip Whitten, stated his belief that Thorpe was clean: "There is absolutely no reason to suspect Ian Thorpe is doping. Detailed underwater stroke analysis shows he has extraordinary technique. In addition, he exhibits none of the physical signs of drug use. His physical attributes, natural talent, excellent coaching and superior technique account entirely for his superb performances."[49] Thorpe's difficulties heightened at the subsequent German leg of the tour in Berlin, when he and American backstroke World Champion Lenny Krayzelburg were drug-tested. Unable to locate the required containers, the testing officials asked the swimmers for permission to have their samples left unsealed in a fridge overnight against the security protocol for drug testing, permission that was refused by the Australian and US officials. After a tense standoff, a compromise was struck: German police officers were called in to take temporary responsibility for the samples.[50] Fired up by the confrontation, Thorpe proceeded to cut more than 1.5 s from his world short course record in the 200 m freestyle, receiving a standing ovation from a German crowd that disagreed with Thiesmann's comments.[51] Given the context of the race, Thorpe rates this as his best ever performance, ahead of his victories at Olympic and World level.[52] On returning from Europe, Thorpe faced further uncertainty until he was granted permission to wear his Adidas suit instead of the Australian uniforms provided by Speedo.[53]

With the past uncertainties resolved, Thorpe proceeded to the Olympic selection trials at Sydney Olympic Park in May 2000. He again broke his 400 m world record on the first night of racing, cutting 0.5 s from his previous best to finish in 3 min 41.33 s to earn his first Olympic selection.[8][54] The following day, he cut another 0.31 s from his 200 m world record to post a semi-final time of 1 min 45.69 s,[55] before lowering it again to 1 min 45.51 s.[8][56] His attempt to secure a third individual berth failed after he finished fourth in the final of the 100 m and he subsequently withdrew from an attempt at the 1500 m.[57][58] In the wake of his repeated improvements of his own world records, Thorpe faced immense expectations from the Australian public in the build-up to the Olympics. A survey showed 79% of Australians naming Thorpe as the athlete they were most looking forward to watching, far ahead of Cathy Freeman. Thorpe and Frost travelled to Colorado for a month of altitude training away from Australian media, but could not escape the attention of American coaches who timed each of Thorpe's work-outs. Accusations of steroid use continued, this time from German captain Chris-Carol Bremer, who stated that "hands and feet are unusually big" due to the use of human growth hormone.[59][22] Thorpe denied the claims and called for the introduction of blood testing, promising to have a sample frozen to prove his innocence upon the discovery of such a test. Although a test for EPO was developed in time for the games, no successful test for hGh was found.[48][60]

2000 Summer Olympics

See also: 2000 Summer Olympics
Olympic medal record
Representing  Australia
2000 Sydney - Men's Swimming
Gold medal – first place 400 m freestyle 3 min 40.59 s (WR)
Gold medal – first place 4 × 100 m freestyle relay 3 min 13.67 s (WR)
Gold medal – first place 4 × 200 m freestyle relay 7 min 07.05 s (WR)
Silver medal – second place 200 m freestyle 1 min 45.83 s
Silver medal – second place 4 × 100 m medley relay 3 min 35.27 s

Entering the Olympics, the Australian public expected Thorpe to deliver multiple world records and gold medals as a formality; Sydney's The Daily Telegraph posted a front page spread headlined Invincible. Thorpe cruised through the heats of the 400 m on the first morning of competition and still managed to post a new Olympic record,[61] shortening bookmakers' odds to 50-1. By the time the final was held that night, the pressure had intensified — the host nation had yet to win its first gold medal. Thorpe lead throughout, and although Italy's Massimiliano Rosolino was within a body-length at the 300 m mark, Thorpe's finishing kick extended the final margin to three body-lengths. This set a new world record of 3 min 40.59 s.[62] Secret tests carried out by the Italian Olympic Committee prior to the Olympics later showed that Rosolino had abnormal levels of human growth hormone.[63] Rosolino aside, Thorpe had left bronze medallist Klete Keller fifteen metres in arrears.[64]

File:Thorpe relay.jpg
Thorpe (right) and his teammates celebrate victory in the 4 × 100 m freestyle relay.

Thorpe lined up later in the night alongside Klim, Chris Fydler and Ashley Callus to anchor the 4 × 100 m freestyle relay, an event which the Americans had never lost at Olympic level. After Klim had broken the individual world record, Fydler and Callus clung onto the arm-length lead, with Thorpe ready to duel with Gary Hall Jr.. Thorpe timed his dive much better than Hall, and surfaced a body-length ahead of the silver medalist in the 100 m from the Atlanta Olympics. Hall opened a half a body-length lead in the first lap, but Thorpe used his finishing kick in the last 40 m to claim victory by just 0.17 s and set a new world record.[8][62] It sparked wild celebrations amongst the partisan crowd, and evoked an uncharacteristic celebration from Thorpe. Whereas he would usually stare calmly at the scoreboard and slowly pump his fists, he immediately jumped out of the pool, screaming and hugging his ecstatic teammates. He even went as far as playing air guitar to mock Hall's pre-race claim that the Americans would "smash" the Australians like guitars. Talbot described the race as the "greatest moment" of his coaching career, but felt that the emotional euphoria negatively impacted the subsequent performance of his team.[65][66]

When Thorpe broke the 200 m freestyle Olympic record in the heats the following morning,[67] his main rival Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands stated "I'm not really thinking about the gold. I just want to make a medal and stand on the podium." However, Van den Hoogenband showed his hand in the evening semi-finals by cutting more than a second off his personal best, breaking Thorpe's record by 0.16 s to set a new benchmark of 1 min 45.35 s. Thorpe qualified just 0.02 s slower and was under immense pressure to win the final the following day after his double gold on the first night.[68] Van den Hoogenband, a 100 m specialist started quickly, and Thorpe chased him, reaching the 100 m mark just 0.04 s behind. Both swimmers turned at 150 m in identical times. However, as a result of starting harder than usual, Thorpe was unable to produce his trademark finishing kick, and van den Hoogenband drew away to claim gold and equal his world record. Leaving the home crowd stunned, Thorpe touched in 1 min 46.83 s, the first time that he had swum slower in the final than in the qualifying rounds.[69] Thorpe returned to victory when he lead off the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay the following night, setting up a 10 m lead over American Scott Goldblatt in the first leg. Although Thorpe was unable to reclaim the individual world record, he, Klim, Kirby and Todd Pearson lowered their world record to 7 min 07.05 s, over five seconds ahead of the Americans — the largest winning margin in an Olympic relay for half a century.[70][71] Thorpe rounded off his Olympics by swimming in the heats of the 4 × 100 m medley final, and collected a silver medal when the finals quartet finished behind the Americans.[8] Thorpe's performances as Australia's leading medalist for the Games were recognised when the Australian Olympic Committee granted him the honour of carrying the flag at the closing ceremony.[72] At year's end, he was again named by Swimming Australia as the Swimmer of the Year, but Van den Hoogenband had usurped him as the leading male swimmer chosen by Swimming World magazine.[73]

2001 World Aquatics Championships

Template:MedalTopWC

|- ! colspan="3" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;background-color:#eeeeee;color:inherit;" class="adr" | Representing  Australia

|- ! colspan="3" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;background-color:#eeeeee;color:inherit;" | 2001 Fukuoka - Men's Swimming

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 800 m freestyle|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 7 min 39.16 s (WR)

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 400 m freestyle|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 3 min 40.17 s (WR)

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 200 m freestyle|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 1 min 44.06 s (WR)

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 4 × 200 m freestyle relay|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 7 min 04.66 s (WR)

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 4 × 100 m medley relay|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 3 min 35.35 s

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 4 × 100 m freestyle relay|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 3 min 14.10 s |} With the 2001 Australian Championships held in Hobart in March, Thorpe added the 800 m freestyle to his repertoire, after FINA had added the event for the 2001 World Aquatics Championships. Thorpe began his campaign by successfully defending his 400 m title with a time of 3 min 40.76 s on the opening night, just 0.17 s outside his world record.[74] The following night in the 800 m event, he matched Hackett for 700 m before characteristically kicking away to win by three body-lengths, breaking Kieren Perkins' 1994 world record by over four seconds.[8][75] He earned his third title in three days by cutting 0.66 s from Van den Hoogenband's 200 m world record to set a new mark of 1 min 44.69 s.[8][76] This performance made him only the third male after John Konrads and Tim Shaw to hold world records over three distances simultaneously. His subsequent victory in the 100 m freestyle in a new personal best of 49.05 s made him the first since Konrads in 1959 to hold all Australian freestyle titles from 100 m to 800 m. This indicated that he could swim faster at the subsequent World Championships in Fukuoka, where he was looking to regain the ascendancy from Van den Hoogenband.[8][77][2] [78]

File:Thorpe ervin.jpg
Thorpe and Ervin dive into the pool for the final leg of the 4 × 100 m medley relay. Thorpe went on to pass Ervin to claim his sixth gold medal at the Championships, the only person to have achieved this feat.

Thorpe arrived in Fukuoka under immense pressure, having been chosen by broadcaster TV Asahi as the marketing drawcard of the event with his face visible throughout the country. With the 4 × 100 m freestyle relay being held after the 400 m freestyle on the first night, Thorpe appeared to be conserving energy when he reached the 200 m mark two seconds outside his world record. Although he gradually accelerated, Thorpe was still 0.93 s behind at the final turn, before a final 50 m burst in 24.36 s saw him cut a further 0.42 s from his world record. The relay saw him in exactly the same position as in previous years, diving in fractionally ahead of American Jason Lezak after Klim, Callus and Pearson had completed the first three legs. Thorpe fell behind in the early half of the leg before kicking away in the closing stages, to seal gold with his fastest ever relay split of 47.87 s.[79] Thorpe swam conservatively in the 200 m freestyle semi-final the following night, with the 800 m final less than half an hour later. He shadowed Hackett for the first 700 m, staying within a body-length and then turning in identical times, before leading at 750 m by just 0.01 s. Again Thorpe kicked away to finish a body-length in front, lowering his world record by over two seconds.[80] The 200 m freestyle rematch with Van den Hoogenband, provided Thorpe with a chance to rectify his strategy from the Olympics, this time he allowed the Dutchman to lead through the first 100 m. Thorpe pulled even at the 150 m mark and then broke away towards the finishing wall two body-lengths clear. He lowered his world record to 1 min 44.06 s in the process, prompting van den Hoogenband to raise his arm aloft.[81] Thorpe's winning streak was interrupted in the 100 m freestyle when he set a personal best of 48.81 s to come fourth, but he returned to form in the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay. Anchoring the team of Klim, Hackett and Kirby, the Australians set a new world record time of 7 min 04.66 s, more than two seconds faster than their Sydney mark, leaving the Italian team more than six seconds in arrears.[2][82] Having overtaken Klim as Australia's leading 100 m freestyle swimmer, Thorpe was entrusted with anchoring the 4 × 100 m medley relay team. After Matt Welsh, Regan Harrison and Geoff Huegill had finished their legs, Thorpe's change left him half a body-length behind the new 100 m world champion Anthony Ervin of the United States. The Americans were expected to win, and with his typically slow start, Thorpe turned a body-length behind with 50 m remaining. With an American victory seeming inevitable, Thorpe managed to accelerate and deprive Ervin of the lead in the last 5 m.[83] This made Thorpe the only swimmer to have won six gold medals at a World Championships,[8][22] and formed the basis for Australia's gold medal win over the United States 13-9. It was also the first time since the 1956 Summer Olympics that Australia had topped the medal tally at a global meet.[84] Thorpe's achievements lead to predictions that he could match Mark Spitz's seven gold medals at the 1972 Summer Olympics, which he played down.[85]

2002 Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships

Thorpe began competition in 2002 at the Australian Championships in Brisbane in March, which were used to select the team for the 2002 Commonwealth Games and the 2002 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. After his record six gold medals in Fukuoka, the meet was surrounded by further expectations of world records and speculation that he would match Spitz's seven gold medals. His winning time of 3 min 40.54 s was the second fastest time in history, but such was the expectation on him that the The Daily Telegraph ran the headline "Newsflash:Ian Thorpe did not break a world record". He went on to claim the 200 m event in a time one second slower than his best before claiming the 100 m in 48.98 s, making it the first time since 1999 that he had failed to break a world record at a major meet.[86] He also experimented by adding the 100 m backstroke to his repertoire, coming second in a time of 55.74 s. This earned him a Commonwealth spot in a seventh event, leading to further media speculation that he could match Spitz.[87] Template:MedalTopCG

|- ! colspan="3" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;background-color:#eeeeee;color:inherit;" class="adr" | Representing  Australia

|- ! colspan="3" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;background-color:#eeeeee;color:inherit;" | 2002 Manchester - Men's Swimming

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 400 m freestyle|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 3 min 40.08 s (WR)

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 200 m freestyle|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 1 min 44.71 s

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 100 m freestyle|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 48.73 s

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 4 × 200 m freestyle relay|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 7 min 11.69 s

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 4 × 100 m freestyle relay|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 3 min 16.42 s

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 4 × 100 m medley relay|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 3 min 36.05 s

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Silver medal – second place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 100 m backstroke|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 55.38 s |} By this time, Thorpe's relationship with Frost was beginning to unravel. Thorpe had always insisted that his swimming was about enjoyment and improving himself in setting faster times, rather than victory or defeat. This contrasted with Frost, who had a more aggressive and combative mindset, often making bold public statements. Thorpe ignored Frost's advice in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games and bulked up his upper body by a further 5 kg to 105 kg, making him the heaviest elite swimmer in history. His reasoning that the strength gains would outweigh any loss in flexibility raised media concerns over his physiological strategy.[88] On the first night in Manchester, Thorpe again lowered his 400 m mark by 0.09 s to 3 min 40.08 s,[8][86] before anchoring the 4 × 100 m freestyle relay team to another gold.[89] The following night, prior to the 200 m final, Thorpe was seen arguing with Frost in the warm-up area over Frost's strategy of focusing on the opposition. Thorpe won gold, but was unusually angry at having failed to lower his previous best, publicly stating that he "wasn't with it" and that he had "one of the worst warm-ups ever".[89] Thorpe did manage to lower his personal best in the 100 m freestyle to 48.73 s en route to his fourth gold, and anchored the 4 × 200 m freestyle and 4 × 100 m medley relays to comfortable victories.[89] When he collected a silver in his first international race in the 100 m backstroke with another personal best, he was forced to rebuff media comparisons to Spitz. He emphasized personal preformance, stating "I think it's a limiting attitude to be competing against other people when you can be challenging yourself." Despite his assertion that Spitz's record could not be matched, Frost predicted that Thorpe could win nine gold medals in one Olympics.[90] In spite of the media disappointment regarding a possible seventh gold, Thorpe's six gold medals equalled the record set by Susie O'Neill four years earlier in Kuala Lumpur, completing all in Games or World record time.[8]Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).[22] Template:MedalTopPP

|- ! colspan="3" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;background-color:#eeeeee;color:inherit;" class="adr" | Representing  Australia

|- ! colspan="3" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;background-color:#eeeeee;color:inherit;" | 2002 Yokohama - Men's Swimming

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 400 m freestyle|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 3 min 45.28 s

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 200 m freestyle|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 1 min 44.75 s

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 100 m freestyle|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 48.84 s

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 4 × 200 m freestyle relay|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 7 min 09.00 s

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 4 × 100 m freestyle relay|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 3 min 15.41 s

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Silver medal – second place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 4 × 100 m medley relay|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 3 min 36.52 s |} The 2002 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships followed in Yokohama less than a month later with media speculation about Thorpe and Frost overshadowing the racing. Thorpe began his campaign with a victory over Hackett in the 400 m freestyle in a pedestrian time five seconds outside world record pace. Afterwards, he revealed that both swimmers had deliberately conserved energy for the 4 × 100 m freestyle relay later in the night. Australia subsequently won the relay, with Thorpe overtaking Jason Lezak in the last 50 m as he had done at the previous Pan Pacific Championships in 1999.[91] He subsequently won the 200 m freestyle, and anchored the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay to victory to take his tally to four golds.[92] After qualifying second in the 100 m freestyle, Thorpe made his customary conservative start, turning in fourth before making up ground to win his fifth gold in a time of 48.84 s.[86][93] Thorpe's run ended in his final event, the 4 × 100 m medley relay final, when he set the second fastest ever split time of 47.20 s, but was unable to prevent an American victory.[94][95] After the meet he announced he was splitting with Frost to train with one of his assistants, Tracey Menzies, who had no international experience. Thorpe admitted that tension existed between him and Frost, but asserted that the split was amicable. He instead cited waning motivation as the reason for his decision, stating "I decided I either had to make the change or it was to walk away from the sport."[96] The retired Talbot, expressed concerns that Thorpe was making a decision whilst he was physically and emotionally drained, while other coaches felt that the new relationship would end up with making Thorpe, rather than Menzies, making the decisions.[97][98][22] Despite a turbulent year, he was again named by Swimming World magazine as its World Swimmer of the Year.[86]

2003 World Aquatics Championships

Template:MedalTopWC

|- ! colspan="3" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;background-color:#eeeeee;color:inherit;" class="adr" | Representing  Australia

|- ! colspan="3" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;background-color:#eeeeee;color:inherit;" | 2003 Barcelona - Men's Swimming

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 400 m freestyle|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 3 min 42.58 s

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 200 m freestyle|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 1 min 45.14 s

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Gold medal – first place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 4 × 200 m freestyle relay|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 7 min 08.58 s

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Silver medal – second place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 200 m individual medley|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 1 min 59.66 s

|- | style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;color:inherit;" | Bronze medal – third place|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 100 m freestyle|| style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;" | 48.77 s |} Along with the switch of coaches, Thorpe indicated that he would change his focus to try and improve his sprinting performance in the 100 m freestyle. He thus dropped the 800 m freestyle from his schedule despite being the reigning world champion and record holder. His sprinting capacity showed signs of improvement at the FINA World Cup event in December 2002 in Melbourne, where he set a personal best in the 50 m freestyle. He subsequently participated in the European legs of the FINA World Cup in January 2003 in an attempt to bring his new training regime to fruition under race conditions. He came within one second of the 200 m and 0.05 s of the 400 m freestyle world records as well as setting the sixth fastest ever time in the 200 m individual medley. He had come within 1.35 s of the world record in his first international race in the event. The first major test of Thorpe's partnership with Menzies came at the Australian Championships held in Sydney in March, with the public waiting to see the results produced by his new coach. Thorpe did not threaten any of his world records, completing the 400 m and 200 m freestyle more than two and one seconds respectively off his best. Although he still managed to hold off Hackett in both races to retain his titles,[99] he later admitted that he was "pretty disappointed" with his performances. Prior to the 100 m race, Thorpe announced that after his sprint training, he would aim to post a time equivalent to his Pan Pacific relay split of 47.20 s. When he only managed to tie with Ashley Callus in a time of 49.05 s,[100] he was criticised, with the Sydney Morning Herald stating "The measure of Thorpe's sprinting ability is that he could only match the efforts of a virus-riddled Callus". Thorpe found some relief by setting a new Commonwealth record of 2 min 00.11 s in his first long course 200 m individual medley outing, the fifth fastest time over the previous year.[101] Thorpe attracted further criticism when he subsequently withdrew from the inaugural Duel in the Pool with a medical complaint, despite travelling to the Northern Territory to visit indigenous communities for charity work and to Japan for sponsorship obligations.[102][103]

Thorpe arrived for the 2003 World Championships in Barcelona (his first major competition since Menzies appointment) under heavy media scrutiny following his failure to improve his times at the Australian Championships. On the first night of competition Thorpe defeated Hackett in the 400 m freestyle in a time 2.5 s outside his world record,[104] making him the first to win three world titles in the same event.[8] After his relatively slow 400 m, he was again under pressure in the 200 m freestyle after van den Hoogenband had out-qualified him by 0.78 s in the semi-finals and then lead at the 100 m mark ahead of world record pace. Thorpe managed to respond, producing a fast finish to retain his world title in a time of 1 min 45.14 s,[105] and gained some relief after his sprint training yielded his first medal in the 100 m freestyle at a global competition; he finished third in 48.77 s.[106] In all three freestyle events however, he had swum slower than in 2002 before switching coaches. He ended his individual campaign on a promising note with his experiment with the 200 m individual medley, setting a new personal best of 1 min 59.66 s to claim silver behind Michael Phelps.[107] Thorpe again anchored the 4 × 200 m freestyle team to retain the world title along with Hackett, Nicholas Sprenger and Craig Stevens, with a reduced margin over the Americans, who finished less than two seconds in arrears.[8][108] Michael Klim's injuries left the relay teams weakened, with Thorpe anchoring the 4 × 100 m freestyle team to fourth,[104] before his campaign ended when the defense of the 4 × 100 m medley relay failed in the heats after an illegal changeover.[109][110] At the end of a difficult year in the water, his standing had fallen in the eyes of Swimming World, who rated him fourth in the world behind Phelps, Japan's Kosuke Kitajima and Popov. He was again named as Australian Swimmer of the Year, jointly with Hackett.[111]

2004 Summer Olympics

See also: 2004 Summer Olympics
Olympic medal record
Representing  Australia
2004 Athens - Men's Swimming
Gold medal – first place 400 m freestyle 3 min 43.10 s
Gold medal – first place 200 m freestyle 1 min 44.71 s
Silver medal – second place 4 × 200 m freestyle relay 7 min 07.46 s
Bronze medal – third place 100 m freestyle 48.56 s

After his feats at the 2003 World Championships, Speedo had generated significant media publicity by offering Micheal Phelps USD 1 million if he could match Spitz's seven golds. Thorpe was adamant that this was impossible, and scrapped his seventh event, the 200 m individual medley from his Olympic program.[112] In late March 2004 at the Australian Championships in Sydney, Thorpe lined up in the heats of the 400 m freestyle, but overbalanced whilst on the blocks and fell into the water, resulting in his disqualification.[8] An attempted appeal, asserting that a noise had caused him to make his mistake, was dismissed, ending his chance to defend the 400 m Olympic title. This prompted widespread debate, with former swimmer Shane Gould asserting that the selection policy should be relaxed to maximise Australia's chances by selecting Thorpe, whilst Talbot, head coach Leigh Nugent and Kieren Perkins defended the selection policy. Public debate was also widespread, with Prime Minister of Australia John Howard describing the situation as a "tragedy".[113][114] Despite the intense media spotlight, Thorpe managed to win the 100 m and 200 m freestyle events in times of 1 min 45.07s and 48.83s respectively to ensure his selection for Athens. Craig Stevens, who had claimed the second qualifying position in the 400 m event, subsequently faced immense public pressure to relinquish his position to Thorpe, with The Australian's front-page headline reading "Only one man can come to the rescue". Although Thorpe said that Stevens should not be pressured into stepping aside, he was also criticised by columnists who felt that he was inherently pressuring Stevens, for not unequivocally ruling himself out. Stevens later relinquished the position, in an interview with the Seven Network who paid him A$130,000 for the rights to broadcast his announcement.[8] This generated ethical debate as to whether Stevens had made a decision in the national interest or sold Thorpe a gold medal, with the Sydney Morning Herald headline reading "It's your race, Ian, at $325 a metre".[22][115][116] Thorpe accepted the position and was further attacked by Perkins, who described the affair as "grubby" and "a very, very sad tale for Australian sport", saying the pressure put upon Stevens was "disgusting".[117][118]

File:Ian Thorpe dq.jpg
Thorpe overbalances on the blocks during the heats of the 400 m freestyle at the 2004 Australian Championships, resulting in disqualification for causing a false start.

The pressure in the lead-up was further compounded by the media attention surrounding Phelps, who had decided that the 200 m freestyle would be one of the events in his quest for eight gold medals. This prompted many media outlets to label the race between Thorpe, van den Hoogenband, Phelps and Hackett as The Race of the Century. With the media spotlight growing, Thorpe tried to avoid media attention, tersely stating at the pre-Olympics training camp in Germany that "If I'm stepping on people's toes, they can live with that, because I have to race at the Olympics and I'm being selfish because that's what I need to do at this stage."[119] Thorpe's increasing focus on the 100 m event, coupled with the media pressure, resulted in speculation that he was vulnerable to Hackett in the 400 m event. Thorpe safely qualified for the 400 m final behind Hackett in the heats,[120] but made a slow start in the final, reaching the 100 m mark one second outside world record pace. In a topsy-turvy performance at irregular pace, Thorpe was passed by Klete Keller by the 150 m mark before accelerating again to reclaim the lead by the 200 m mark. Thorpe kept Hackett and Keller at around half a body-length up to the 300 m mark, before breaking to a body-length lead by 350 m. However, he could not produce his trademark finishing kick and was closed down by Hackett, holding on by only 0.26  in a time three seconds outside his own world record. Thorpe appeared to shed tears in an uncharacteristic sign of emotion, admitting afterwards that the controversy surrounding the event had taken a toll on him, but denying that any liquid had left his eyes.[121][122]

File:Ian Thorpe 200 Athens.jpg
Thorpe celebrates victory in the 200 m freestyle in Athens, dubbed The Race of the Century

With Klim recently returning from a two year injury layoff, and Callus ill, Australia was not considered to be a realistic chance of defending the 4 × 100 m freestyle relay. Thorpe anchored the team to sixth place, but it was van den Hoogenband who signalled his form ahead of the 200 m final with a split of 46.79 s.[123][124] The 200 m began with van den Hoogenband again attacking immediately, reaching the 100 m mark in 50.42 s, more than a second within the world record split, with Thorpe half a body-length behind. Thorpe gradually reduced the lead before passing van den Hoogenband in the last 50 m to win The Race of the Century by half a body-length, in a new Olympic record of 1 min 44.71 s.[125] Having achieved what had eluded him four years earlier, Thorpe showed more emotion, immediately tearing off his cap, punching the air and screaming.[126] The next day saw a downturn as six years of Australian domination in the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay ended when Hackett, Klim and Sprenger had put Thorpe into the final leg 1.48 s behind Keller. Thorpe gradually reduced the margin to 0.6 s by the last turn, but on this occasion was unable to bring Australia home, the United States touching 0.13 s earlier.[127][128] Thorpe later found himself on the other side of close result when he was the last qualifier into the 100 m freestyle by 0.01 s. He capitalised in the final by reaching the 50 m mark in sixth place before a fast finish earned him a bronze medal in a new personal best of 48.56 s,[129][130] making him the only person to medal in the 100-200-400 combination in Olympic history.[8] After the Athens Olympics, Thorpe took a break from competitive swimming, skipping the 2005 World Aquatics Championships.

2006: Return to competitive swimming

Thorpe returened to competition at the New South Wales Championships in December 2005 in the 200 m, stating his intention to retire after the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.[131] He also announced that with a view to concentrating on the 100 m freestyle, he had dropped his pet event, the 400 m freestyle, despite the urging of national coach Alan Thompson to swim the event.[132] Thorpe began his qualification campaign for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in February 2006 by winning the final of the 200 m freestyle in a time of 1 min 46.42s, expressing disappointment at a time slower than his performances at the State Championships.[133] Despite setting a fast time of 48.86 s in the semi-final of the 100 m freestyle, he was unable to swim faster in the final managing only 49.24 s. He admitted to being disappointed with his performances, speculating that he may have misjudged his new training schedule after dropping the 100 m. However he reasserted that he was enjoying his return and was anticipating further improvement at the Commonwealth Games.[134] This was ambition was derailed on March 7, when Thorpe announced that he had withdrawn from the 2006 Commonwealth Games due to bronchitis. The illness had prevented him from training and Thorpe asserted that he would not even be of benefit in the team events.[135][136] The illness that floored Thorpe was later diagnosed as a strain of glandular fever,[137] and after a further delay due to a broken hand, he moved to Los Angeles in July to work with American coach Dave Salo. Further disruption followed when Thorpe was forced to switch to training under Milt Nelms due to ongoing media attention which disrupted Salo's squad.[138] His stay was constantly surrounded by rumours that he was low on motivation, skipping training sessions, and had become overweight due to unhealthy eating habits and spending too much time at celebrity events. This fuelled speculation that his international career was on the decline, rumours which were denied by the Thorpe camp.[139][140] This was reinforced by Australian head coach Alan Thompson, who was confident that Thorpe was back to his "old self" after inspecting him at training upon his return to Australia.[141]

Retirement

After withdrawing from the Australian Swimming Championships in Brisbane: the selection trials for the 2007 World Aquatics Championships, speculation mounted that Thorpe had lost motivation and would retire. On November 21, 2006, at the age of 24, Thorpe held a press conference in Sydney to announce his retirement from competitive swimming where he briefly discussed his future directions.[142] Shane Gould noted that although his physical state was good, his mental state was empty, resulting in his decision to move on. Thorpe said that although he had been contemplating retirement for some time, he was afraid of the future as swimming had given him a "safety blanket". Thorpe noted that "As I got fit, physically fit, my mind also got fit," which he said had allowed him to reach his decision. He was close to tears when thanking the Australian public for its support, but declared that his retirement was a "joyous" occasion that the public could join to celebrate his career.[143]

Following his retirement, head coach of the US men's swimming team Bob Bowman, who also coaches Michael Phelps, stated that Thorpe was "the greatest middle-distance swimmer of all time and he's the greatest relay swimmer I have seen." He also further cited Thorpe's ability to raise the profile of the sport and popularise it, noting that Phelps' public image was itself modelled on Thorpe's. Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates stated that "In 50 years from now Australians will still marvel at the feats of Ian Thorpe," paying tribute to his work for the Olympic movement. This was reinforced by Dawn Fraser, the first person to win an Olympic event three times, who said that Thorpe was the "greatest swimmer in the world as far as freestyle swimming is concerned", but lamented that he would not attempting a hat-trick of 400 m titles. His coach Tracey Menzies said that he "made the impossible things possible" whilst mentor Milt Nelms asserted that Thorpe was still capable of making a comeback for Beijing.[144]

Thorpe's success has been attributed to a work ethic, mental strength, powerful kick, ability to accelerate and having a physiology suited to swimming. This led former Australian head coach Don Talbot to label him as "the greatest swimmer the world has seen". Although Swimming World labelled his technique as "extraordinary" and "superior",[49] Talbot disagreed, stating his belief that Thorpe has placed too much of the workload on his kick at the expense of his arms. Talbot also cited Thorpe's ability to manage his workload and his day-to-day recovery between races during a meet, which he believed was deficient.[145] He was known for his trademark six-beat kick to power away to victory in the closing stages of races, attributed to his unusually large size 17 feet.[22]

Personal life

Thorpe is one of the most prominent and popular sportsmen in Australia, even ranked above cricket legend Don Bradman in a survey conducted by The Daily Telegraph.[2] Despite competing in a sport where the vast majority of international athletes live below the poverty line, marketing surveys have consistently shown Thorpe to be the most sought after Australian athlete for sponsorship deals, surpassing footballers who compete on a weekly basis in much larger stadia.[146] Aside from his swimsuit sponsor Adidas, Thorpe is sponsored by Australian corporate giants such as Qantas, Telstra and the Seven Network.[147][148] In spite of his popularity as an athlete, his demeanour is often described as being quiet and mild-mannered. Known for his long-standing interest in fashion, he serves as an ambassador for Armani,[11] and has his own line of designer jewellery and underwear. Such interests have often led to speculation that Thorpe might be homosexual, with his picture having been featured prominently on gay websites.[147] It was only in 2002 that he finally denied this rumour. In an interview with Monica Attard on ABC national radio, he asserted that he was heterosexual, though he said that he was flattered by these rumours, because he felt that being part of a minority group showed "strength in your character".[22][149][150]

Thorpe's interests in fashion and culture resulted in him making frequent visits to New York City (which he describes as a second home), often for obligations with Armani. He narrowly escaped death there on September 11, 2001, having stopped at the World Trade Center on his morning jog before returning to his hotel.[11] It was during this September trip that he was invited to be interviewed on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, which is notable given the tendency of the American public to forget swimming in non-Olympic years.[151] He later became a spokesperson for the unsuccessful New York city bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics, even promising to defer his retirement to compete in them at the age of 29, if New York were to be successful.[152] Thorpe's interests have also seen him involved in television, starring in a reality television show in 2002 called Undercover Angels, which imitated the Charlie's Angels series. The show involved Thorpe directing three young women who performed good deeds for people in need. Although it was popular with the public and attracted more than a million viewers, it was widely panned by critics.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). He also appeared as an extra in the American sitcom Friends.[11][153]

Thorpe is widely popular in Asia, and Japan in particular. He was identified in 2000 by TV Asahi as the swimmer likely to be the most successful at the forthcoming 2001 Fukuoka World Championships, and was selected as the marketing figurehead for the event. In a visit before the Championships to promote Asahi in a series of television events, he found his picture featured prominently on giant billboards.[2][154] When he returned for the competition itself, he was mobbed at the airport by youthful crowds 25 m deep, with hundreds camping outside the Australian team hotel. Aside from the younger generations, he was also praised by the older sections of the Japanese public as a role model for youth, due to what they interpreted as his humility and work ethic. He further endeared himself to them by doing interviews in Japanese.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). In 2002, in the wake of the tourism slump after the September 11 terrorist attacks, he agreed to be a tourism ambassador for the Australian Tourism Commission in Japan. The high-profile campaigning involved frequent television advertising and a meeting with then Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, resulting in an upturn in Japanese tourism to Australia which was credited to Thorpe.[155][156][157] In 2005 the Yakult company in Japan released a 'Thorpedo' energy drink, featuring a picture of Thorpe on the bottle.[158] This was part of an equity deal with the So Natural food group in which Thorpe was offered a 5% stake in the company, initially worth A$1.1m in return for the use of his name and image on their products. The 15-year deal covers markets across East and Southeast Asia and could expand Thorpe's share in the venture to 50% depending on its commercial success.[159][160]

More recently, Thorpe has also emerged as a philanthropist, founding the Ian Thorpe Fountain for Youth trust in 2000.[161] The organization raises funds for research on childhood illnesses and also sponsors a school in Beijing for orphaned children with disabilities. In addition, it works with The Fred Hollows Foundation to improve health standards and living conditions in Australian aboriginal communities.[2][162][163] In addition to philanthropy, Thorpe also has an interest in raising awareness in wider social issues. Thorpe is prominent in the campaign against drug use, inside and outside sports. He has called for the introduction of blood testing[48] and repeatedly criticised FINA for allegedly inadequate drug-testing procedures, claiming that "for anyone to think that they're swimming at a clean Olympic Games, they'd be naive". Although swimmers and coaches praised him, he was condemned by FINA, who accused him of bringing the sport into disrepute.[22][164][165] He was also selected by the United Nations to lead an anti-recreational drugs campaign in Japan,[166] as well as promotional work for UNICEF for UN Children's Week.[167]

See also

References

  • Andrews, Malcolm (2000). Australia at the Olympics. ABC Books. ISBN 0-7333-0884-8. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  • Hunter, Greg (2004). Ian Thorpe:The Biography. Macmillan. ISBN 1-4050-3632-X.
  • Talbot, Don (2003). Talbot:Nothing But the Best. Lothian. ISBN 0-7344-0512-X. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

Notes

  1. ^ Hunter, Greg (2004). Ian Thorpe: The Biography. Sydney: MacMillan. p. 404. ISBN 140503632X. pp274-275
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Ian Thorpe". Grand Slam International. Retrieved 2006-11-14.
  3. ^ Hunter (2004), p viii
  4. ^ "Swimming World's - World Swimmers of the Year". Swimming World magazine. 2005. Retrieved 2006-11-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ Hunter (2004), p75
  6. ^ p102
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Andrews, Malcolm (2000). Australia at the Olympics. Sydney: Australian Broadcasting Corporation. p. 487. ISBN 0733308848. pp434-436
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Ian Thorpe - Career at a glance". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2006-11-21. Retrieved 2006-11-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Hunter (2004), p viii
  10. ^ "Thorpe announces retirement". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2006-10-21. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ a b c d e f g "Did you know?". Sydney Morning Herald. 2006-11-22. Retrieved 2006-11-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ a b c d e Cowley, Michael (2006-11-22). "A career that sets the gold standard". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2006-11-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "smh early" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  13. ^ Hunter (2004), pp1-6
  14. ^ Hunter (2004), p102
  15. ^ Hunter (2004), pp1-6
  16. ^ Hunter (2004), p19-22
  17. ^ Hunter (2004), p36-39
  18. ^ Talbot, Don (2003). Talbot: Nothing But the Best. Melbiourne: Lothian. p. 302. ISBN 073440512X. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) pp224-225
  19. ^ Hunter (2004), pp46-49
  20. ^ Hunter (2004), pp65-70
  21. ^ Hunter (2004), pp72-73
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Ian Thorpe: On course to sink Athens opposition". ABC. 2004. Retrieved 2006-11-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ Hunter (2004), pp73-75
  24. ^ Hunter (2004), pp75-76
  25. ^ Hunter (2004), p82
  26. ^ a b c d Malcolm (2000), pp191-192
  27. ^ Hunter (2004), p75
  28. ^ Hunter (2004), pp91-92
  29. ^ Hunter (2004), pp96-102
  30. ^ Hunter (2004), pp95-102
  31. ^ Hunter (2004), pp110-113
  32. ^ Hunter (2004), pp117-118
  33. ^ "1998 Commonwealth Games". Swimming World magazine. 1998-09-25. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ "1998 Commonwealth Games: Day 4". Swimming World magazine. 1998-09-26. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ Hunter (2004), pp121-123
  36. ^ Hunter (2004), pp130-133
  37. ^ "Hackett Breaks 200m Freestyle World Record". Swimming World magazine. 1999-03-24. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  38. ^ Hunter (2004), pp137-139
  39. ^ a b Thomas, Stephen J. (1999-08-22). "1999 Pan Pacific Championships: Day 1". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  40. ^ Thomas, Stephen J. (1999-08-23). "1999 Pan Pacific Championships: Day 2". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  41. ^ Thomas, Stephen J. (1999-08-24). "1999 Pan Pacific Championships: Day 3". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. ^ Thomas, Stephen J. (1999-08-25). "1999 Pan Pacific Championships: Day 4". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  43. ^ Hunter (2004), pp147-157
  44. ^ Hunter (2004), pp162-166
  45. ^ "Thorpedo Torpedoed". Swimming World magazine. 1999-10-21. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  46. ^ Hunter (2004), pp170-173
  47. ^ "Thorpe, Heyns Named 1999 World Swimmers of the Year". Swimming World magazine. 1999-12-07. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  48. ^ a b c Talbot (2003) p156
  49. ^ a b "World Cup VIII: German Coach Accuses Thorpe of Doping". Swimming World magazine. 2000-02-03. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  50. ^ "Thorpe's Stand Vindicated". Swimming World magazine. 2000-02-03. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  51. ^ "2000 FINA World Cup IX: World Record For Krayzelburg". Swimming World magazine. 2000-03-01. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  52. ^ Cowley, Michael (2006-11-22). "Only now does he realise just how good he was". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2006-11-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  53. ^ Hunter (2004), pp175-191
  54. ^ Thomas, Stephen J. (2000-05-13). "Aussie Trials Day One: The Thorpedo Strikes Again". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  55. ^ Thomas, Stephen J. (2000-05-14). "Aussie Trials Day 2: Thorpe lowers the 200 free world record, Huelgill breaks the 50 fly mark". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  56. ^ Thomas, Stephen J. (2000-05-15). "Thorpe Does It Again--3 Days, 3 World Records". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  57. ^ Thomas, Stephen J. (2000-05-15). "Aussie Trials Day 5: Susie O'Neill Finally Breaks Mary T's 200 Fly Record". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  58. ^ Hunter (2004), pp192-195
  59. ^ "Huge feet cause flap". British Broadcasting Corporation. 2000-07-13. Retrieved 2006-11-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  60. ^ Hunter (2004), pp198-202
  61. ^ Whitten, Phillip (2000-09-16). "Olympic Day 1 Prelims - Complete". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  62. ^ a b Whitten, Phillip (2000-09-16). "Olympics - Day 1 Finals (Complete)". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  63. ^ Mullen, P.H. (2001). Gold in the Water : the true story of ordinary men and their extraordinary dream of Olympic glory. New York: Thomas Dunne Books. p. 326. ISBN 0312311168. p319
  64. ^ Hunter (2004), pp210-217
  65. ^ Hunter (2004), pp218-225
  66. ^ Talbot (2003) pp194-195
  67. ^ Whitten, Phillip (2000-09-17). "Olympic Prelims: Day Two". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  68. ^ Whitten, Phillip (2000-09-17). "Olympic Day 2 Finals". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  69. ^ Whitten, Phillip (2000-09-18). "Olympic Day 3 Finals - Complete". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  70. ^ Whitten, Phillip (2000-09-19). "Olympic Day 4 Finals". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  71. ^ Talbot (2003), p196
  72. ^ "Games at a Glance". Australian Olympic Committee. Retrieved 2006-11-20.
  73. ^ Hunter (2004), pp226-234
  74. ^ "Aussie World Champs Trials: Thorpe Just Misses Breaking Own 400 Free World Record". Swimming World magazine. 2001-03-26. Retrieved 2006-11-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  75. ^ Hanson, Ian (2001-03-26). "Aussie Nationals: Ian Thorpe Destroys World Record in the 800; Hackett Also Under Old Mark". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  76. ^ Dennett, Belinda (2001-03-27). "The Thorpedo Does It Again!! New World Record in the 200m Free". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  77. ^ Hunter (2004), pp253-257
  78. ^ Dennett, Belinda (2001-03-29). "Aussie Nationals: Thorpe Wins Fourth Gold". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  79. ^ Lord, Craig (2001-07-22). "Thorpe Sets WR, Wins Two Gold on First Day of Competition at World Champs". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  80. ^ Lord, Craig (2001-07-24). "Thorpe, Phelps Set World Records; Haley Cope Wins in an Upset". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  81. ^ Lord, Craig (2001-07-25). "The Thorpedo Strikes Again--Another Awesome World Record". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  82. ^ Lord, Craig (2001-07-27). "Aussies Smash 800 Relay WR; USA Celebrates with Wins by Ervin, Peirsol, Bowen". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  83. ^ "FINALS Results: July 28". Swimming World magazine. 2001-07-28. Retrieved 2006-11-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  84. ^ Hunter (2004), pp264-275
  85. ^ "Thorpe targets drug cheats". British Broadcasting Corporation. 2006-04-12. Retrieved 2006-11-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  86. ^ a b c d Whitten, Phillip (2006-12-30). "2002 Year in Review". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  87. ^ Hunter (2004), pp289-292
  88. ^ Talbot (2003), pp228-229
  89. ^ a b c "Thorpe's six of the best". British Broadcasting Corporation. 2006-08-02. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  90. ^ Hunter (2004), pp297-303
  91. ^ "Thorpe does just enough". British Broadcasting Corporation. 2006-08-24. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  92. ^ "Thorpe on target". British Broadcasting Corporation. 2006-08-26. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  93. ^ "Thorpe bags fifth gold". British Broadcasting Corporation. 2006-08-26. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  94. ^ "US sets new world best". British Broadcasting Corporation. 2006-08-29. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  95. ^ Hunter (2004), pp307-309
  96. ^ "Thorpe splits with coach". BBC Sports. September 12, 2002. Retrieved 2006-11-08.
  97. ^ Hunter (2004), pp311-313
  98. ^ Talbot (2003), pp232-233
  99. ^ Thomas, Stephen J. (2003-03-24). "Aussie Champs: Jones Lowers Breast Mark Again, Thorpe Unhappy With 8th Fastest 200 Free". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  100. ^ Thomas, Stephen J. (2003-03-25). "Thorpe, Callus Tie in 100 m Free at Aussie Trials". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  101. ^ Thomas, Stephen J. (2003-03-27). "Aussie Champs: Hackett Swims 7th Fastest 800; Thorpe Breaks Commonwealth Record in 200 IM". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  102. ^ Pollaro, Tarrah Smith (2003-03-28). "Thorpe to skip Mutual of Omaha duel in the pool". United States Olympic Committee. Retrieved 2006-11-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  103. ^ Hunter (2004), pp325-330
  104. ^ a b Thomas, Stephen J. (2003-07-20). "World Champs, Day One Finals: Jenny Thompson Anchors US Women, Popov Anchors Russian Men to Gold in the 400 Free Relay". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  105. ^ Thomas, Stephen J. (2003-07-22). "Phelps Sets World Record, Three Championship Marks Tumble". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  106. ^ Thomas, Stephen J. (2003-07-24). "World Champs, Day 5 Finals: Two World Records and 3 Championship Records Set, Popov Upsets Hoogie to Highlight Day 5". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  107. ^ Thomas, Stephen J. (2003-07-24). "Michael Does It Again, Destroys 200 IM Mark". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  108. ^ Thomas, Stephen J. (2003-07-24). "World Champs, Day 4 Finals: Phelps, Aussie 800 Free Relay Take Gold; Kitajima Lowers Championship Mark Again in 200 Breaststroke". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  109. ^ Thomas, Stephen J. (2003-07-24). "World Champs, Day 8 Prelims: USA Sets Championship Record in Men's Medley Relay; Hungarians Qualify First in Men's and Women's IM". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  110. ^ Hunter (2004), pp337-342
  111. ^ Hunter (2004), pp346-347
  112. ^ Hunter (2004), pp349-350
  113. ^ Magnay, Jacquelin (2004-03-24). "I'm over it already, says a gracious Thorpe". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2006-11-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  114. ^ Bannerman, Mark (2004-03-29). "Thorpe's tumble divides nation". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2006-11-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  115. ^ Bannerman, Mark (2004-04-29). "Stevens annoucement raises financial questions for world sport" (The 7.30 report, transcript). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2006-11-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  116. ^ Cowley, Michael (2004-04-27). "It's your race, Ian, at $325 a metre". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2006-11-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  117. ^ Hunter (2004), pp354-359
  118. ^ Solly, Ross (2004-03-29). "O'Neill, Perkins urge Stevens to stand firm". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2006-11-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  119. ^ Hunter (2004), pp377-380
  120. ^ "No mistakes as Thorpe launches 400 m defence". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2004-08-14. Retrieved 2006-11-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  121. ^ "Thorpe, Hackett quinella 400 m free". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2004-08-15. Retrieved 2006-11-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  122. ^ Hunter (2004), pp384-388
  123. ^ Thomas, Stephen J. (2004-08-15). "Men's 400 Freestyle Relay Prelims: South Africans Rock with a New Continental Record 3:13.84, Second Fastest in History; US Qualifies Second". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  124. ^ Thomas, Stephen J. (2004-08-15). "South African Men Take a Historic Relay Victory in 400 free– Smash World Record". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  125. ^ Thomas, Stephen J. (2004-08-16). "The Thorpedo Triumphs over Hoogie in the "Race of the Century", Phelps Takes the Bronze". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  126. ^ "Thorpe makes history in 200 m free". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2004-08-17. Retrieved 2006-11-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  127. ^ Thomas, Stephen J. (2004-08-17). "USA Downs Aussies in 800 Freestyle Relay in American Record 7:07.33 Italy Takes the Bronze". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  128. ^ "US too good in 4×200 m relay". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2004-08-18. Retrieved 2006-11-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  129. ^ Hunter (2004), pp389-398
  130. ^ "Van den Hoogenband wins 100". BBC. 2004-08-18. Retrieved 2006-11-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  131. ^ "Thorpe Not Planning Beyond 2008". Swimming World magazine. 2006-01-27. Retrieved 2006-11-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  132. ^ "Aussie Expectations Are High for Commonwealth Games". Swimming World magazine. 2006-01-02. Retrieved 2006-11-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  133. ^ Thomas, Stephen J. (2006-01-31). "Australian Commonwealth Games Trials: Day Two Finals: Flash! Lenton Regains World Record in the 100 Freestyle; Thorpe Makes A Successful Return in the 200 Free". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  134. ^ Thomas, Stephen J. (2006-02-02). "Australian Commonwealth Games Trials: Day Four Finals: Schipper Breaks Commonwealth Record to Win 100 Fly; Thorpe Gets the Job Done in 100 Freestyle to Take Fifth Title". Swimming World magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  135. ^ "Thorpe is Out of Commonwealth Games". Swimming World magazine. 2006-03-07. Retrieved 2006-11-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  136. ^ By staff writers and wires. "Illness forces Thorpe to stand down". Retrieved 2006-03-07.
  137. ^ Wilson, Jim (2006-10-06). "Ian Thorpe turns to gymnastics". Herald Sun. Retrieved 2006-11-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  138. ^ Jeffery, Nicole (2006-10-05). "City of Angels full of answers for Thorpe". The Australian. Retrieved 2006-11-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  139. ^ Wilson, Rebecca (2006-08-20). "Thorpe - Me, LA and gay rumours". Herald Sun. Retrieved 2006-11-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  140. ^ "Thorpe fitness weighs on Australian minds". Reuters. 2006-08-04. Retrieved 2006-11-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  141. ^ Williams, Rebecca (2006-10-13). "Ian Thorpe's hunger back". Herald Sun. Retrieved 2006-11-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  142. ^ "Ian Thorpe quits swimming". news.com.au. 2006-11-21. Retrieved 2006-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  143. ^ Jeffery, Nicole (2006-11-22). "Thorpe looks up from black line". The Australian. Retrieved 2006-11-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  144. ^ Jeffery, Nicole (2006-11-22). "World bids adieu to pool pioneer". The Australian. Retrieved 2006-11-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  145. ^ Talbot (2003), pp1221-229
  146. ^ Hunter (2004), pp vii-viii
  147. ^ a b Saltau, Chloe (2003-07-28). "The magnetic Mr Thorpe". The Age. Retrieved 2006-11-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  148. ^ Hunter (2004), pp90, 140, 168
  149. ^ Magnay, Jacquelin (2002-11-18). "Thorpe straight as the line on the bottom of the pool". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2006-11-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  150. ^ Hunter (2004), pp318-320
  151. ^ Hunter (2004), pp280-281
  152. ^ Magnay, Jacquelin (2005-07-05). "Ian Thorpe 'to rescue NY Olympic dream'". The Age. Retrieved 2006-11-10.
  153. ^ Hunter (2004), p244
  154. ^ Hunter (2004), pp236, 249, 257-260
  155. ^ Hunter (2004), pp292-293
  156. ^ McIntyre, Paul (2004-07-08). "Seafood campaign tests Thorpe's pulling power". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2006-11-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  157. ^ Hockey, Joe (2002-02-25). "Ian Thorpe - Australia's First Holiday Ambassador in Japan". Government of Australia. Retrieved 2006-11-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  158. ^ "Yakult to sell Ian Thorpe sports drink". Japan Today. 2005. Retrieved 2006-03-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  159. ^ McIntyre, Paul (2004-07-08). "Seafood campaign tests Thorpe's pulling power". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2006-11-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  160. ^ Hunter (2004), pp350-351
  161. ^ Hunter (2004), p248
  162. ^ "Jeff McMullen". The Fred Hollows Foundation. Retrieved 2006-11-16.
  163. ^ Hunter (2004), pp331-333
  164. ^ "Hall backs Thorpe over drug use claims". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2004-08-04. Retrieved 2006-11-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  165. ^ Hunter (2004), pp379
  166. ^ Hunter (2004), p250
  167. ^ Hunter (2004), p279
Preceded by Young Australian of the Year
2000 		Succeeded by
Preceded by World Swimmer of the Year
1998-1999 		Succeeded by
Preceded by World Swimmer of the Year
2001-2002 		Succeeded by

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