EVENTS
 Sportsman of the Year
 Heisman Trophy
 Swimsuit 2001

CNNSI.com GROUP
 Sports Illustrated
 Life of Reilly
 Television
 SI Women
 SI for Kids
 Press Room
 TBS/TNT Sports
 CNN Languages

COMMERCE
 SI Customer Service
 SI Media Kits
 Get into College
 Sports Memorabilia
 TeamStore

Click here for more on this story

Ian Thorpe, Australia   Destination:   Bob Martin 2000 Sydney Olympics swimming competition Traveling from: Sydney, Australia Personal: Age: 17 Height: 6'4"   At the age of 8, tired of watching older sister Christina at her swim practices, Thorpe decided to get in on the action. At first, swimming was difficult -- Thorpe was diagnosed as being allergic to chlorine. That didn't stop him, though; he wore a nose clip and swam with his head out of the water. Eventually, the allergy subsided and Thorpe won his first competition a year later at 9. Thorpe became the youngest male swimmer to win selection to the Australian national squad when he was named to the Pan Pacific Championship Team in 1997 after placing third in the 400-meter freestyle at the National Open Championships in Adelaide. His potential shone through even more the next year, when at the 1998 World Championships in Perth, Australia, Thorpe became the youngest male world champion in history by winning the 400-meter freestyle. In 1999, he set world records in the 200- and 400-meter freestyle events at the Pan Pacific Championships. Achievements: 2000 Australian Swimming Championships and Olympic Trials: 200m and 400m free, 1st; 100m free, 4th 1998 World Short Course Championships, 200m free, 1st; 400m free, 2nd; 4x100m free relay, 1st 1999 Pan Pacific Championships, 200m and 400m free, 4x100m and 4x200m free relay, 1st 1998 World Championships, 400m free, 4x200m free relay, 1st 1998 Commonwealth Games, 200m and 400m free, 4x100m and 4x200m free relay, 1st 1997 Pan Pacific Championships, 400m free, 2nd Currently: Thorpe lowered his world record times in the 200- and 400-meter freestyles in May at the Australian national championships. His speed has been attributed to many things, including his size-17 feet, which help to give him an incredibly powerful kick.

 

Related information
Stories
Olympic Profile Archive
Multimedia
Visit Multimedia Central for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.

Copyright © 2001 CNN/Sports Illustrated An AOL Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines.