Ian Thorpe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ian Thorpe
AM

Thorpe at Doha GOALS Forum 2012
Personal information
Nickname(s)	"Thorpedo" "Thorpey"
Born	(1982-10-13) 13 October 1982 (age 42) Sydney, Australia
Height	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight	104 kg (229 lb)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Freestyle
Club	SLC Aquadot
Coach	Doug Frost (1995–2002) Tracey Menzies (2002–2006)
Medal record Men's swimming Representing  Australia Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 5 3 1 World Championships (LC) 11 1 1 World Championships (SC) 2 1 0 Pan Pacific Championships 9 3 0 Commonwealth Games 10 1 0 Total 37 9 2 Olympic Games Gold 2000 Sydney 400 m freestyle Gold 2000 Sydney 4×100 m free Gold 2000 Sydney 4×200 m free Gold 2004 Athens 200 m freestyle Gold 2004 Athens 400 m freestyle Silver 2000 Sydney 200 m freestyle Silver 2000 Sydney 4×100 m medley Silver 2004 Athens 4×200 m free Bronze 2004 Athens 100 m freestyle World Championships (LC) Gold 1998 Perth 400 m freestyle Gold 1998 Perth 4×200 m free Gold 2001 Fukuoka 200 m freestyle Gold 2001 Fukuoka 400 m freestyle Gold 2001 Fukuoka 800 m freestyle Gold 2001 Fukuoka 4×100 m free Gold 2001 Fukuoka 4×200 m free Gold 2001 Fukuoka 4×100 m medley Gold 2003 Barcelona 200 m freestyle Gold 2003 Barcelona 400 m freestyle Gold 2003 Barcelona 4×200 m free Silver 2003 Barcelona 200 m medley Bronze 2003 Barcelona 100 m freestyle World Championships (SC) Gold 1999 Hong Kong 200 m freestyle Gold 1999 Hong Kong 4×100 m free Silver 1999 Hong Kong 400 m freestyle Pan Pacific Championships Gold 1999 Sydney 200 m freestyle Gold 1999 Sydney 400 m freestyle Gold 1999 Sydney 4×100 m free Gold 1999 Sydney 4×200 m free Gold 2002 Yokohama 100 m freestyle Gold 2002 Yokohama 200 m freestyle Gold 2002 Yokohama 400 m freestyle Gold 2002 Yokohama 4×100 m free Gold 2002 Yokohama 4×200 m free Silver 1997 Fukuoka 400 m freestyle Silver 1997 Fukuoka 4×200 m free Silver 2002 Yokohama 4×100 m medley Commonwealth Games Gold 1998 Kuala Lumpur 200 m freestyle Gold 1998 Kuala Lumpur 400 m freestyle Gold 1998 Kuala Lumpur 4×100 m free Gold 1998 Kuala Lumpur 4×200 m free Gold 2002 Manchester 100 m freestyle Gold 2002 Manchester 200 m freestyle Gold 2002 Manchester 400 m freestyle Gold 2002 Manchester 4×100 m free Gold 2002 Manchester 4×200 m free Gold 2002 Manchester 4×100 m medley Silver 2002 Manchester 100 m backstroke

Ian James Thorpe, AM (born 13 October 1982) is a retired Australian swimmer. He is famous for his skill in freestyle, but he also competed in backstroke and the individual medley. He has won five Olympic gold medals, which is the second-most for any Australian swimmer. At the 2000 Summer Olympics in his hometown of Sydney, he was the most successful athlete, winning three gold and two silver medals.

Because of his amazing speed in the water, he earned the nickname "Thorpedo". At just 14 years old, Thorpe became the youngest male ever to swim for Australia. He then became the youngest-ever male World Champion when he won the 400-metre freestyle at the 1998 World Championships. For years, he was unbeatable in that event.

Thorpe set 13 individual long-course world records. He was also a key part of Australia's relay teams, helping them win many races. In 2001, he became the first person to win six gold medals at a single World Championship. His success made him one of Australia's most popular athletes. He was named Young Australian of the Year in 2000.

Early Life and Start in Swimming

Ian Thorpe was born in Sydney, Australia, and grew up in a sporty family. His father, Ken, was a talented cricket player, and his mother, Margaret, played netball. However, Ian didn't have the same ball skills as his parents.

He started swimming by chance when he was five years old. His older sister, Christina, was told to swim to help heal a broken wrist, and Ian followed her into the pool. At first, Thorpe had an allergy to chlorine, which forced him to swim with his head out of the water. Even with this awkward style, he won his first race at age seven because he was so much bigger than the other kids.

He eventually got over the allergy and became a top young swimmer. In 1995, he began training with coach Doug Frost. By this time, he was already six feet tall. He competed in his first Australian Age Championships and won bronze medals in the 200-metre and 400-metre freestyle.

Rise to International Fame

Making the National Team

In 1996, at just 13 years old, Thorpe competed in the trials for the Atlanta Olympics. He was not expected to make the team, but it was great experience for him. By January 1997, he became the first 14-year-old in Australia to swim the 400-metre freestyle in under four minutes.

This amazing swim made him a serious contender for the national team. At the Australian Championships, he won a bronze medal in the 400-metre freestyle, finishing behind Grant Hackett. This was the start of a long and famous rivalry between the two swimmers. At 14 years and 5 months old, Thorpe became the youngest male ever selected for the Australian swim team.

World Champion at 15

Plaque of Ian Thorpe Outside Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

Thorpe's first major international event was the 1998 World Aquatics Championships in Perth. He helped the Australian 4 × 200-metre freestyle relay team win gold. It was the first time Australia had won that event at a world level since 1956.

In the 400-metre freestyle final, Thorpe was behind his rival Grant Hackett for most of the race. But in a thrilling finish, Thorpe caught up and passed Hackett on the very last stroke. At just 15 years and 3 months old, he became the youngest male individual world champion in history. This victory made him a huge star in Australia.

Dominating the World of Swimming

Breaking World Records

The 1999 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships were held in Sydney, serving as a practice run for the Olympics. On the first night, Thorpe smashed the world record in the 400-metre freestyle by almost two seconds. Commentators called it one of the most amazing swims they had ever seen.

He didn't stop there. The next night, he broke the world record for the 200-metre freestyle. He then broke it again in the final the following day. He also helped the Australian 4 × 200-metre freestyle relay team set a new world record. In just four nights, Thorpe had set four world records.

2000 Sydney Olympics

Going into the 2000 Summer Olympics in his hometown, the whole country expected Thorpe to win. On the first night, he won the 400-metre freestyle, setting a new world record and winning Australia's first gold medal of the Games.

Later that night, he swam the final leg of the 4 × 100-metre freestyle relay. The American team had never lost this event at the Olympics. Thorpe dove in slightly behind the American swimmer Gary Hall Jr. but powered past him in the final metres to win. The Australian crowd went wild.

Thorpe also competed in the 200-metre freestyle. He faced his rival, Pieter van den Hoogenband from the Netherlands. In a very fast race, van den Hoogenband won, and Thorpe took the silver medal. However, Thorpe bounced back, leading the 4 × 200-metre freestyle relay team to another gold medal and a new world record. By the end of the Games, Thorpe had won three gold and two silver medals.

2001 World Championships

At the 2001 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Thorpe had one of the best performances of his career. He won an incredible six gold medals, the most any swimmer had ever won at a single World Championship.

He set new world records in the 200-metre, 400-metre, and 800-metre freestyle events. He also helped Australia win three relay gold medals. His amazing swims helped Australia finish with more medals than the United States for the first time since 1956.

The "Race of the Century" and Later Career

2004 Athens Olympics

Ian Thorpe's hand prints at the Sydney Aquatic Centre.

Before the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Thorpe faced a major challenge. During the Australian trials, he slipped on the starting block for the 400-metre freestyle and was disqualified. This meant he couldn't defend his Olympic title in his best event. However, his teammate Craig Stevens, who had qualified, gave up his spot so Thorpe could compete.

In Athens, the 200-metre freestyle was called the "Race of the Century." It featured Thorpe, his Dutch rival Pieter van den Hoogenband, and the rising American star Michael Phelps. In an exciting race, Thorpe came from behind to win the gold medal. He also won gold in the 400-metre freestyle and a bronze in the 100-metre freestyle. This made him the only male swimmer in history to win medals in the 100, 200, and 400-metre combination at the Olympics.

Retirement and Comeback

After the Athens Olympics, Thorpe took a break from swimming. In November 2006, he announced his retirement, saying he no longer had the motivation to compete.

However, in 2011, he announced he was making a comeback. He hoped to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He competed at the Australian trials but did not swim fast enough to make the team. His comeback attempt ended, and he later retired from swimming for good.

Life After Swimming

Ian Thorpe, Cathy Freeman and Jeff McMullen were among some of the speakers at the Close the Gap launch.

After his swimming career, Ian Thorpe has been involved in many different activities. He is known for his interest in fashion and has worked with the designer brand Armani. He has also been a popular figure for sponsorships with major companies like Qantas and Telstra.

Thorpe is also known for his charity work. In 2000, he started Ian Thorpe's Fountain for Youth. This charity raised money for research into childhood illnesses and supported health programs for Indigenous Australian communities. For his work, he was awarded the Human Rights Medal in 2012.

He has also appeared on television. In 2017, he hosted a documentary called Bullied, which looked at the problem of bullying. He has also written cookbooks and competed on Celebrity MasterChef Australia.

Honours and Legacy

Ian Thorpe is remembered as one of the greatest swimmers of all time. His powerful kick and incredible ability to accelerate made him a champion.

Some of his major honours include:

• Young Australian of the Year in 2000.
• Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2001.
• The Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre in Sydney was named after him in 2007.
• In 2019, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his service to youth, Indigenous education, and swimming.
• He was one of the first people added to the Swimming Australia Hall of Fame in 2022.

Images for kids

• 

  Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre in Ultimo, Sydney

• 

  Thorpe (left) with fans in 2000.

See also

In Spanish: Ian Thorpe para niños

• Ian Thorpe: The Swimmer, 2012 documentary
• Ian Thorpe Aquatic and Fitness Centre
• List of Australian Olympic medalists in swimming
• List of Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming (men)
• List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men)
• World record progression 200 metres freestyle
• World record progression 400 metres freestyle
• World record progression 800 metres freestyle