Ian Thorpe

Nick Name

: N/A

Born

:13 Oct,1982

Age

:36 years, 10 months

Location

:Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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About Ian Thorpe

Australian Olympic swimmer Ian Thorpe won the most gold medals of any Australian athlete, and was the youngest to win a world championship. He went on to win 10 more.

Synopsis:

Initially allergic to chlorine, Ian Thorpe overcame this to compete hard and win international honors in swimming by age 14. He went on to win 11 world championships and dominate the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympic Games.

Early Swimming Career:

Ian James Thorpe was born on October 13, 1982, and grew up in Milperra, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. Both mother, Margaret, and father, Ken, were active in sports and encouraged Ian and his older sister, Christina, to pursue their interest in swimming. Ironically, Ian was allergic to chlorine when he was young. He later started swimming with his head out of the water, which eliminated the allergic reaction.

Ian Thorpe soon began competing in swim meets in Australia, winning nine gold medals at the New South Wales Short Course Age Championships in 1994. Thorpe was 6 feet tall when he started high school in 1995, and began to use his size to an advantage. He competed at the Australian Age Championships, winning bronze medals in the 200-meter and 400-meter freestyle events. He then won all 10 events at the New South Wales Age Championships in 1997. That same year, at the Pan Pacific Championship in Japan—his first international event—he finished second in the 400-meter freestyle, and set the fastest record for a 14 year-old.