The rise and trials of five-time Olympic champion Ian Thorpe

Ian Thorpe – aka the "Thorpedo" – is one of the most iconic figures in the world of competitive swimming. Though he succeeded at the highest possible level, his journey to Olympic superstardom was far from a smooth run.

Thorpe burst onto the international swimming scene as a teenager, quickly making a name for himself with his remarkable prowess in the pool. Born on October 13, 1982, in Sydney, Australia, Thorpe's journey to greatness began at a young age. 

At just 14 years old, he became the youngest male ever to represent Australia at the World Championships in 1998, held in Perth, Australia.

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Thorpe's international breakthrough came at the 1999 Pan Pacific Championships, where he won four gold medals, setting world records in the 200m and 400m freestyle events. His performances cemented his status as a rising star in swimming.

The 2000 Sydney Olympics were a defining moment for Thorpe and Australian sports. At just 17, he won three gold medals and two silver medals, captivating the home crowd with his grace and power.

Thorpe's most memorable race here was the 400m freestyle. Soundtracked by deafening chants of "Thorpie" from a rabid home crowd – he set a world record and became the youngest-ever male Olympic champion in this event.

Thorpe's dominance continued at the 2001 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, where he won six gold medals, becoming the first swimmer to achieve such a feat at a single World championship. He set new world records in the 200m, 400m, and 800m freestyle events, as documented by Swimming World, and solidified his status as the best swimmer of his generation.

Thorpe's career was not without formidable rivals; chief among them Pieter van den Hoogenband (pictured) of the Netherlands and Michael Phelps of the United States.

Van den Hoogenband, known for his exceptional sprinting ability, emerged as Thorpe's primary rival during the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In the 200m freestyle final, Van den Hoogenband narrowly edged out Thorpe to claim gold, setting a world record in the process. This rivalry fueled Thorpe's determination, and their subsequent races were always eagerly anticipated by fans worldwide.

Michael Phelps, who would later become the most decorated Olympian of all time, also crossed paths with Thorpe. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Thorpe, Phelps, and Van den Hoogenband faced off in what was dubbed the "Race of the Century" in the 200m freestyle.

Thorpe emerged victorious, securing gold and reaffirming his status as the world's best middle-distance freestyler. Phelps, who finished third, would go on to dominate the sport, but Thorpe's legacy was firmly established with five Olympic gold medals to his name after the Athens Olympics. 

Of his rivalry with Phelps, Thorpe told the podcast Inside with Brett Hawke in 2020, "I may regret saying this, but I kind of wish Michael Phelps was kind of a little bit older," Thorpe told the swim coach. "It would have challenged me. I would have had someone else there."

Despite his extraordinary success in the pool, Thorpe's life outside of it was fraught with challenges. The pressure of maintaining peak performance and the relentless scrutiny of the public eye took a toll on him. Thorpe would retire in 2006 at just 24, citing a lack of motivation to continue at the elite level, as told by The Daily Telegraph at the time.

Thorpe would come back to the sport in 2011, in an attempt to qualify for the London 2012 Olympics, but the then 29-year-old would ultimately fall well short of the mark after several years of absence from the sport.

Retirement was not kind to the young athlete, and Thorpe would face alcoholism and a prescription medication addiction as part of a battle with severe depression, something he would receive treatment for in February 2014, as reported by CNN at the time.

In July 2014, Thorpe made headlines again, this time for his brave decision to come out as gay. In an interview with Sir Michael Parkinson (pictured with Thorpe at Wimbledon in 2014), Thorpe publicly acknowledged his sexuality, ending years of speculation and internal conflict.

"I’m comfortable saying I’m a gay man. And I don’t want people to feel the same way I did. You can grow up, you can be comfortable and you can be gay," Thorpe told the acclaimed British presenter, speaking of the unease he felt about his sexuality growing up.

The following years have seen a more settled and healthy Thorpe, who has adjusted to life outside of competitive swimming by getting behind charitable causes – most notably raising awareness of bullying – a cookbook author and an in demand brand ambassador in Australia.

Despite the settled life, he has still had to face some complicated issues. In 2022, he was once again in the headlines after his ex-partner Ryan Channing died suddenly in Bali, after an apparent prescription overdose, as reported by The Daily Mail. Channing had been Thorpe's partner for five years, from 2014 to 2019.

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