Ian first came to International prominence at the 1997 at the Pan-Pacific meet when he finished second in the 400 freestyle. He was only 14 years old. By 1998 he would win both the 200 and 400 freestyle events at the World Championships. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics he would win three gold and two silver medals and set a world record for the 400m Freestyle event..
Ian would compete at the World Championships in 2001, winning the 200, 400 and 800 metre freestyle events, all in world record times, and also swam on three winning relay teams, becoming the first person to win six gold medals at a single World Championship.
- Status: Pending1999Young Australian of the Year.
- Status: Pending1998 and 1999World Swimmer of the Year.
- Status: Pending1998,2002 and 2004World Pacific Rim Swimmer of the Year.
- Status: Pending2000The Sports Medal.
Beginnings
Ian grew up in the district, residing in Milperra and attending East Hills BHS, before being home schooled from the age of 15. In 1994 aged 12, he won the Harold Hardwick Memorial Trophy for 100 metres Boys State Primary Schools Open Championship. While at Milperra PS he would compete in 13 events and set under-age NSW records in all of them.
Achievements
In 1999 aged 16, Ian broke four world records at the Pan Pacific Championships, set and broke the world 200m freestyle record at the same meet, and recorded the fastest time ever in a lap of the 4 x 200m freestyle relay.In 2001 Ian became the first person since John Konrads in 1959 to win Australian national titles in the 100m, 200m, 400m, and 800m.
Post Representation
On retirement he would continue with his charity work (Ian Thorpe's Foundation for Youth Trust,)
" a charity that benefits the treatment of children with life-threatening illnesses. In 2012 he came out of retirement but would miss selection for the London Games and would join the BCC as a commentator for the London Olympics."