Thorpedo Retires

One of the greatest swimmers of all time Australian Ian Thorpe also known as Thorpedo announce his retirement from competitive swimming. He is jst 24 years of age. Thorpe has won 11 world titles, five olympic golds and set 13 individual long-course worlds records in a career spanning starting from 1997.


Thorpe told a packed news conference broadcast live on Australian television that he had decided to quit because swimming was no longer the most important thing in his life.

I decided ... I was going to discontinue my professional swimming career," Thorpe said. "I'm very proud of this decision I have made today.

Career Highs

Thorpe made his debut at the age of 14 in 1997 and was the youngest swimmer to be selected on an Australian swimming team. In 1998 he became the youngest ever male world champion winning the 400m freestyle.

In 1999 he smashed 4 world records in 200m, 400m, 4*100m and 4*200m freestyle at Pan Pacific Championship in sydney.

In 2000 olympics he won 3 gold medals 4x100m (WR), 4x100m (WR), 4x200m freestyle (WR) - and two silver - 200m freestyle and 4x100m medley in sydney olympics and was named the youngest Australian of the year in 2000.

In 2001 he won six gold medals - 200m (WR), 400m (WR), 800m (WR), 4x100m, 4x200m (WR) freestyle, 4x100 medley - at World Aquatic Championships in Japan.

Wins six gold - 100m, 200m, 400m (WR), 4x100m, 4x200m freestyle, 4x100m medley - and a silver - 100m backstroke - at Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002

In 2004 athens olympics thorpe was at his peak winning 6 golds 100m, 200m, 400m, 4x100m, 4x200m freestyle, 4x100m medley thus becoming the most succesful Australian in the history of olympics games.

In 2005 he took break from swimming in 2005 skipping 2005 world championships. In the year or so thorpe was struggling with glandular fever which resulted in his withdrawl from Commonwealth games in 2006.