Ian Thorpe Bio (Biography)
Biography
Ian Thorpe, nicknamed the Thorpedo, is an Australian freestyle swimmer. He is thought of as one of the greatest freestyle swimmers of all time. In the 2000 Olympic Games, he won five gold medals, the most ever one by an Australian in an Olympic Games.
Ian Thorpe was born in Australia on October 13, 1982. He was raised in Milperra and began swimming at the age of five. However, he was pulled from the pool for a time because of a chlorine allergy. He swam in his first race at the age of seven with his head out of the water because of the allergy. Over time he overcame the allergy and eventually became a star swimmer. At 14, he participated in the 1998 Perth World Championships and became the youngest individual male World Champion in the 400 meter freestyle. From that moment, Ian Thorpe became a force in the 400 meters, winning the event in every Olympics, Worlds, Commonwealth and Pan Pacific Swimming Championships until his break after the 2004 Olympics. He holds 13 individual long-course world records, anchored the Australian relay teams. He is the only person to win medals in the 100-200-400 relay combination.
Ian Thorpe competed in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games for Australia. In 2000 he won three gold medals (400 meter freestyle, 4X100 meter freestyle relay and 4X200 meter freestyle relay) and two silver medals (200 meter freestyle and 4X100 meter medley relay). In 2004, he won two gold medals (200 meter freestyle and 400 meter freestyle), one silver (4X200 meter freestyle relay) and one bronze (100 meter freestyle). In addition to Olympic Medals, Ian Thorpe has one eleven World Championship gold medals and in 2001 became the only swimmer to win six gold medals in one World Championship. He was names World Swimmer of the Year four times by Swimming World Magazine. He was also voted the Australian Swimmer of the Year from 1999-2003.
He was named Young Australian of the Year in 2000.
Ian Thorpe has endorsement deals from Adidas, Qantas, Telstra and Seven Network, making him the most sought after Australian athlete. He also has his own line of jewelry and underwear. In 2000, he founded the Ian Thorpe Fountain of Youth trust to raise money for research childhood illnesses. The foundation also supports a Beijing school for orphans with disabilities and works to improve health standards and living conditions in Australian Aboriginal communities.
Ian Thorpe was born in Australia on October 13, 1982. He was raised in Milperra and began swimming at the age of five. However, he was pulled from the pool for a time because of a chlorine allergy. He swam in his first race at the age of seven with his head out of the water because of the allergy. Over time he overcame the allergy and eventually became a star swimmer. At 14, he participated in the 1998 Perth World Championships and became the youngest individual male World Champion in the 400 meter freestyle. From that moment, Ian Thorpe became a force in the 400 meters, winning the event in every Olympics, Worlds, Commonwealth and Pan Pacific Swimming Championships until his break after the 2004 Olympics. He holds 13 individual long-course world records, anchored the Australian relay teams. He is the only person to win medals in the 100-200-400 relay combination.
Ian Thorpe competed in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games for Australia. In 2000 he won three gold medals (400 meter freestyle, 4X100 meter freestyle relay and 4X200 meter freestyle relay) and two silver medals (200 meter freestyle and 4X100 meter medley relay). In 2004, he won two gold medals (200 meter freestyle and 400 meter freestyle), one silver (4X200 meter freestyle relay) and one bronze (100 meter freestyle). In addition to Olympic Medals, Ian Thorpe has one eleven World Championship gold medals and in 2001 became the only swimmer to win six gold medals in one World Championship. He was names World Swimmer of the Year four times by Swimming World Magazine. He was also voted the Australian Swimmer of the Year from 1999-2003.
He was named Young Australian of the Year in 2000.
Ian Thorpe has endorsement deals from Adidas, Qantas, Telstra and Seven Network, making him the most sought after Australian athlete. He also has his own line of jewelry and underwear. In 2000, he founded the Ian Thorpe Fountain of Youth trust to raise money for research childhood illnesses. The foundation also supports a Beijing school for orphans with disabilities and works to improve health standards and living conditions in Australian Aboriginal communities.