Ian Thorpe

Ian Thorpe, known as the Thorpedo, is recognized as one of Australia's most accomplished swimmers and among the most decorated athletes in competitive swimming. He accumulated five Olympic gold medals and 11 world championship titles, and his 22 world records establish him as one of Australia's most successful athletes. At age 13, Thorpe broke 10 national age-group records in a single meet and became the youngest swimmer to join Australia's national team the following year. At the World Championships, Thorpe, then age 15, became the youngest world swimming champion with his world-record victory in the 400-meter freestyle.

Thorpe attracted global attention during the Sydney Olympics, where he won three gold medals in the 400-meter freestyle, 4 × 200-meter freestyle relay, and 4 × 100-meter freestyle relay, as well as a silver medal in the 200-meter freestyle. He was named flag bearer for the closing ceremony after being one of the most successful athletes for Australia at the Games. Thorpe continued his dominance at the World Championships, becoming the first person to win six gold medals at one championship, setting three world records, and helping Australia top the medal tally at a global meet for the first time since 1956. At the Athens Games, he became the only Olympian in history to win medals in the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 400-meter freestyle at the same Olympic Games. Following his retirement, Bob Bowman, head coach of the US men's swimming team, described Thorpe as the greatest middle-distance and relay swimmer he had seen.

Beyond his achievements in the pool, Thorpe has received numerous honors. He was the first person to be named Swimming World Swimmer of the Year four times and was recognized as Australian Swimmer of the Year for multiple years. Ian Thorpe AM was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame as an Athlete Member and elevated to Legend of Australian Sport for his contributions to swimming. He was awarded an Order of Merit by the Australian Olympic Committee and advanced to Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in recognition of his significant service to youth and Indigenous education through charitable initiatives and to swimming.

Thorpe has also been open about his personal struggles with depression, revealing that he would have competed at additional Olympics if he had received better mental health care and noting the challenges of speaking out in the sport's culture. In his autobiography, "This Is Me," Thorpe discusses his battle with depression and his early retirement at age 24. Since sharing his experiences, Thorpe has worked to raise awareness about mental health, collaborating with organizations such as Young Minds Matter and ReachOut.

Thorpe's work outside of swimming includes advocacy for social issues, raising awareness about depression and equality, and supporting causes such as children's cancer and Indigenous education. He was awarded a Human Rights Medal for his charity work with Indigenous children and received honorary Doctorates of Letters from the University of Western Sydney and Macquarie University for his contributions to sport, philanthropy, and Indigenous rights. After retiring from professional swimming, Thorpe remains active as a television commentator, public speaker, and advocate, continuing to contribute to the sports and mental health communities.