Thorpe, Ian

▪ 2002

      In July 2001 at the world swimming championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Australian freestyler Ian Thorpe added to his already formidable reputation by winning six gold medals, setting four world records, and leading his nation to a team victory. Living up to his nickname of “the Thorpedo,” he set individual world marks of 1 min 44.06 sec in the 200-m freestyle, 3 min 40.17 sec in the 400-m freestyle, and 7 min 39.16 sec in the 800-m freestyle. He was also a member of the 4  ×  200-m freestyle relay team, which set a world record of 7 min 4.66 sec. Thorpe's additional gold medals were won in the 4  ×  100-m freestyle relay and the 4  ×  100-m medley relay. Named both best male and best performer of the meet, he credited his coach, Doug Frost, with playing a major role in his success.

      Thorpe first attracted widespread international attention at the Olympic Games in September 2000 before a hometown crowd in Sydney. In that competition he won gold medals and achieved world records in the 400-m freestyle, the 4  ×  100-m freestyle relay, and the 4  ×  200-m freestyle relay. His only defeat was a second-place finish in the 200-m freestyle.

      Thorpe was born on Oct. 13, 1982, in the Paddington district of Sydney. Inspired by the success in the pool of his older sister, Christina, he began swimming competitively at the age of eight under coach Jenny McAdam. He later commented that as a young boy he had felt like a “fish out of water” at other sports, including cricket, at which his father had gained recognition. A high-school classmate described him as having “no coordination at all on land.” At the age of 13, Thorpe broke 10 national age-group records in one meet, and one year later he became the youngest swimmer to make Australia's national team. At the 1998 world championships, he became at the age of 15 the youngest world swimming champion with his world-record victory in the 400-m freestyle. At the Pan Pacific championships in August 1999, Thorpe, (now 2 m [6 ft 4 in] tall and taking full advantage of his extraordinarily large feet, which some compared to flippers), set world long-course records in the 200-m and 400-m freestyle events. Remarking on his subsequent celebrity status, he said, “Nothing can really prepare you for this.” According to 1984 Olympic swimming champion Rowdy Gaines, Thorpe has “revolutionized freestyle. He is doing the 400 free with a six beat [per arm cycle] kick the whole way. The only other people doing that are sprinters.” In addition, his stroke length of 2.7 m (8 ft 8.5 in) is longer than that of his competitors.

      Thorpe also became notable for his generosity. After setting his first world record at the Pan Pacific championships, he donated his $25,000 prize money to two charities, and for several years he spent much time helping a childhood friend through a difficult bout with cancer.

David R. Calhoun

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▪ Australian athlete

born October 13, 1982, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

      Australian athlete, who was the most successful swimmer in that country's 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. At age 13 he broke 10 national age-group records in one meet, and the following year he became the youngest swimmer to make Australia's national team. At the 1998 world championships, Thorpe, then age 15, became the youngest world swimming champion with his world-record victory in the 400-metre freestyle. Aided by his height (6 feet 4 inches [2 metres]) and extraordinarily large feet, which some compared to flippers, Thorpe soon became known as the “Thorpedo.”

      Already well known in Australia, Thorpe attracted widespread attention during the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, where he won three gold medals (400-metre freestyle, 4 × 200-metre freestyle relay, 4 × 100-metre freestyle relay) and one silver medal (200-metre freestyle). The following year, at the world swimming championships, he won six gold medals and set world records in the 200-metre freestyle, the 400-metre freestyle, and the 800-metre freestyle. He was also a member of the 4 × 200-metre freestyle relay team, which set a world record. Thorpe's other gold medals were in the 4 × 100-metre freestyle relay and the 4 × 100-metre medley relay. His performance helped Australia win the team title at the meet, and Thorpe was named best male performer. Thorpe continued his dominance of the freestyle as he won three gold medals at the 2003 world championships (200-metre freestyle, 400-metre freestyle, and 4 × 200-metre freestyle relay). At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Thorpe added gold medals in the 200-metre and 400-metre freestyle events as well as a silver in the 4 × 200-metre freestyle relay and a bronze in the 100-metre freestyle.

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