Still aged only 17 by the time sydney 2000 came around, he entered these games against a backdrop of massive support from the home supporters and huge interest from the rest of the world. See more ideas about ian thorpe, michael parkinson and olympic swimming. Ian thorpe entered the 2000 olympic games in sydney bearing the weight of tremendous expectations as a locally born swimming world champion in a nation that loves swimming heroes. Initially allergic to chlorine, ian thorpe overcame this to compete.
Ian thorpe has said that the countrys swimming squad should have come won more gold medals what i was most impressed with the swimmers was the. With three gold and two silver medals, thorpe was the most successful. He has won five olympic gold medals, the most won by any australian. Following the return of a former great sportsman is always poignant but, with the australian ian thorpe, there is a sense that swimming also. Ian thorpes full swimming biography, including ian thorpes best times, medals. It was obviously conceived as an accompaniment to ian thorpe s glorious return to swimming at the london olympics, and the structure of the book leads you up to the big moment at the qualifiers, which then ends not with a bang, but a whimper. From the section swimming ian thorpe fivetime olympic champion ian thorpe is being treated for depression after being found by australian police behaving oddly near a car in sydney. Ian thorpe, swimming star for australia in olympics, says he.
I always knew ian as a middle distance swimmer, but here he showed that he has some serious sprint skillz as well, when he became the first and so far the only man in history to earn medals in the 100, 200 and 400m freestyle in the same olympics. A preolympics letter from australian swimming great ian thorpe has helped inspire kyle chalmers to his gold medal performance in the mens 100 metres freestyle in. The reason i always looked forward to olympics over the years was largely due to the interest in the track and field events. Ian thorpe of australia won the gold medal for mens 200m freestyle swimming in 2004 olympics. The 10 most influential swimmers of all time swimjim. Flaskas said fellow aussie geoff huegills comeback in 2009 and 2010 resulting in a gold medal in the 100 fly at the commonwealth games has fueled thorpes fire. If you are a fan of ian thorpe andor swimming this book will suit just fine. Ian thorpe, a fivetime olympic gold medalist, believes setting games gold medal targets places athletes under severe pressure. Ian thorpe knew that, and he knew his career was done. Ian james thorpe, oam born october 1982 is an australian swimmer who specialises in freestyle, but also competes in backstroke and the individual medley. Thorpe retired from competitive swimming in 2006, citing waning motivation, after a highly successful career, but in 2012 he attempted a comeback. Swimming champion ian thorpe back home after entering rehab for alcohol abuse and depression following his 2012 olympic comeback failure thorpedo admitted to. The swimming competitions at the 2004 summer olympics in athens took place from 14 to 21 august 2004 at the athens olympic aquatic centre in marousi.
The swimming program will open with a bang today, with west australian pair blair evans and brianna throssell among those set to make a splash. The australian swimmer ian thorpe, whose fivemedal performance at the 2000 olympics in sydney captivated his country and served as powerful motivation for. Ian thorpe biography swimmer australian olympic swimmer ian thorpe won the most gold medals of any australian athlete, and was the youngest to win a world championship. Hall of fame ian thorpe michaels sports statistics. Initially allergic to chlorine, ian thorpe overcame this to compete hard and win international honors in swimming by age 14. Setting medal targets at a national level puts an immense amount of pressure on athletes around something they have no control over, says retired olympic legend ian thorpe. Thorpe is the most famous swimmer in the world if you wanted to design the perfect swimmer then youd have to use ian thorpe as your blueprint.
Aug 05, 2016 australian swimming coach don talbot defended thorpes mantle as the worlds best swimmer regularly through the early 2000s and its clear in his book phelps heard every word. In his book, thorpe also confronted the rumors about homosexuality, listing them. During the 2001 world aquatics championships, thorpe became the first person to win six gold medals in one world championship. Ian thorpe has said that the countrys swimming squad should have come won more gold medals what i was most impressed with the swimmers was the way they handled themselves. Ian thorpe won five olympic gold medals, three silver and one bronze. Getty images the 29yearold said after the event he planned to continue swimming and he has quickly returned to the pool ahead of a heavy block of training. Aug 11, 2016 a preolympics letter from australian swimming great ian thorpe has helped inspire kyle chalmers to his gold medal performance in the mens 100 metres freestyle in rio it was revealed last month. Top 11 olympic swimming books masters swimmer christine goodair. Aug 03, 2002 five down, two to go for a golden seven as ian thorpe won the 100 metres freestyle, the blue ribbon event of swimming at the commonwealth games yesterday, reports anita lonsbrough.
Standing at 6ft 5 inches tall, ian has massive size 17 feet which have left his competitors literally trailing in his wake. Nov 11, 2007 ian thorpe swimming freestyle 4 kick and rotation. Ian thorpe, australian athlete, who was the most successful swimmer in that countrys history, accumulating five olympic gold medals and 11 world championship titles between 1998 and 2004. Ian thorpe, born october, 1982, sydney, new south wales, australia, australian athlete, who was the most successful swimmer in that countrys history, accumulating five olympic gold medals and 11 world championship titles between 1998 and 2004 thorpe began swimming competitively at age eight, and, although he had been uncoordinated in other sports, he excelled in the pool. Ian thorpe, australias greatest olympian, has been admitted to. Ian thorpe is an australian swimmer who has become a 5 time olympic champion and 11 time world long course champion.
Read more on olympic swimming legend ian thorpe prepared for 2012 failure. It feels odd to read a book about someone whos famous for winning many olympic medals and yet not really. Enjoy this look back at the mens 200m freestyle final the summer olympic games in athens 2004, also known as the race of the century in olympic swimming or the greatest swimming race of all time. Kyle chalmers inspired by olympic great ian thorpe. Ian thorpe on bullying, depression and athletes mental health. Aussie legend ian thorpe calls for ditching olympic medal targets. Aussie legend ian thorpe calls for ditching olympic medal. With only 50 metres to go, he powered past his archrival to touch the wall first in an olympic record of 1. Originally built for the 1991 mediterranean games, it was refurbished to host swimming, diving, synchronised swimming, and water polo events. Ian thorpe biography, ian thorpe achievements, ian thorpe. Instead i am reading books i havent had time to read, chatting with friends more. Though thorpe did not medal in the sprint free, he won his other six events. Reutersshailesh andrade olympic swimming legend ian thorpe.
Olympic great ian thorpe offers message of hope and positivity. He is the thirdhighest swimmer in terms of most gold medals won with eleven gold world championships. It details ian thorpes attempt to gain selection in the australian swimming team competing at the london 2012 olympics, but also recounts various events in his life as an elite swimmer. With three gold and two silver medals, thorpe was the most successful athlete at the 2000 summer olympics in sydney, australia. Swimming at the 2004 summer olympics mens 200 metre.
The australian human rights commission says thorpe has been a. I wanted to include the 400m freestyle from the 1999 pan. Mar 28, 2004 grant hackett and not ian thorpe will be australias gold medal hope in the 400metres freestyle at this years olympic games in athens after the world record holder was disqualified for a false. Australian swimming coach don talbot defended thorpes mantle as the worlds best swimmer regularly through the early 2000s and its clear in his book phelps heard every word. Its where sport at least in our country appears to be heading after the australian olympic committee welcomed swimming legend ian thorpes call. It was obviously conceived as an accompaniment to ian thorpes glorious return to swimming at the london olympics, and the structure of the book leads you up to the big moment at the qualifiers, which then ends not with a bang, but a whimper. Five down, two to go for a golden seven as ian thorpe won the 100 metres freestyle, the blue ribbon event of swimming at the commonwealth games yesterday, reports anita lonsbrough. Ian james thorpe, am born october 1982 is an australian retired swimmer who specialised in freestyle, but also competed in backstroke and the individual medley. Dec 11, 2012 olympic champion ian thorpe has won this years australian human rights medal for his charity work with indigenous children. Jul, 2014 the australian swimmer ian thorpe, whose five medal performance at the 2000 olympics in sydney captivated his country and served as powerful motivation for a young michael phelps, has revealed in. Olympic swimming legend ian thorpe calls for end to gold. On the very first day of competition, thorpe showed that he could handle the pressure. A book of the names and address of people living in a city. The australian fivetime olympic champion swimmer ian thorpe has said it is still premature to judge the success of his comeback, despite his disappointing results in.
But the record hauls and the legendary skills of american mark spitz and german michael gross forced me to do the re think. Ian thorpe the biography hardcover january 1, 2004. Ian thorpe wins human rights award abc news australian. Ian thorpe s full swimming biography, including ian thorpe s best times, medals, news and more. At the 1998 world championships he won both the 200 and 400 freestyle, and was the media darling of australia going into the sydney 2000 olympics.
Ian thorpe bio, stats, and results olympics at sports. The australian swimming legend believes there is too much pressure placed on competitors when organisations set medal targets for events. In his book, thorpe revealed how he was often driven to alcohol to find some kind of release. Such a pity some people are so interested in your sexuality because of their lack of it. Briefly retired at the age of 24 but is back to snag. With three gold and two silver medals, thorpe was the most successful athlete at the 2000 summer olympics in. It details ian thorpe s attempt to gain selection in the australian swimming team competing at the london 2012 olympics, but also recounts various events in his life as an elite swimmer. Apr 15, 2015 ian thorpe biography swimmer australian olympic swimmer ian thorpe won the most gold medals of any australian athlete, and was the youngest to win a world championship.
Coa may arrive before or after the item has been received. It featured 32 events 16 male, 16 female, a total of 937 swimmers from 152 nations, and the programs changes instituted in the previous games, including notably the threephase format heats, semifinals, and final for all shortdistance races. Ian thorpe, australian athlete, who was the most successful swimmer in that countrys history, accumulating five olympic gold medals and 11 world. The young star of the australian swimming team was ian thorpe, who won his first international medal in 1997 at the age of 14 and was a double world champion the following year. In swimming to be honest i did not follow that much. Swimming events at the 2004 summer olympics were held at the athens olympic aquatic centre, officially known as the olympic aquatic centre of the athens olympic sports complex oco during the games. Jun 06, 2018 its where sport at least in our country appears to be heading after the australian olympic committee welcomed swimming legend ian thorpes call for an end to medal targets because it. See more ideas about ian thorpe, olympic swimmers and olympics.
Oct 24, 2012 this book is part biography, part diary. He went on to win 11 world championships and dominate the 2000 and 2004 summer olympic games. Top 11 olympic swimming books masters swimmer christine. Dec 19, 2011 the australian fivetime olympic champion swimmer ian thorpe has said it is still premature to judge the success of his comeback, despite his disappointing results in recent competitions.
Ian james thorpe, also known as the thorpedo, was born on october. Olympic champion ian thorpe has won this years australian human rights medal for his charity work with indigenous children. Ian thorpe australian gold medalist signed olympics flag. This is me by ian thorpe meet your next favorite book. Ian thorpe says australias swimming team should have won. Thorpe began swimming competitively at age eight, and, although he had been uncoordinated in other sports, he.
Ian thorpes full swimming biography, including ian thorpes best times, medals, news and more. Ian thorpes achievements in the water are nothing short of phenomenal. Ian thorpe on the new regime making him a better swimmer homepage. Jan 30, 2014 swimming champion ian thorpe back home after entering rehab for alcohol abuse and depression following his 2012 olympic comeback failure thorpedo admitted to sydney hospital on wednesday. Grant hackett and not ian thorpe will be australias goldmedal hope in the 400metres freestyle at this years olympic games in athens after the world record holder was disqualified for a. Australian olympic swimmer ian thorpe won the most gold medals of any australian athlete, and was the youngest to win a world championship. Ever since 2004, ian thorpe has been waffling about his swimming. Swimming legend ian thorpe is expecting australias sprinters to shine at the optus aquatic centre on the gold coast, tipping a strong medal haul in the hotlyanticipated commonwealth games on home soil. Thorpe describes his life as a swimmer and is candid about the highs and lows away from the pool. Ian thorpe, swimming star for australia in olympics, says. Meanwhile, michael turned in another fast 200 free at the 2005 world. Ian james thorpe was born on october, 1982, and grew up in milperra, a suburb of sydney, australia. Ian thorpe swimming freestyle 4 kick and rotation youtube. Ian thorpe first came to international prominence at the 1997 panpacific meet when he finished second in the 400 freestyle.
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