Australia’s most successful Olympian is Ian Thorpe. The professional swimmer competes in backstroke and individual medley in addition to his freestyle specialty. It’s interesting to note that he and fellow swimmer Emma McKeon won five gold medals at the Olympics, the most of any Australian. He was the most successful athlete in his home city of Sydney during the 2000 Summer Olympics, winning three gold and two silver medals.
Thorpe’s accomplishments as a swimmer have earned him respect and adoration globally. In addition, the world is aware of his professionalism at work, how he has managed his success, humility, and dedication to assisting others.
Meet Ian Thorpe’s Parents Margaret And Ken
Thorpe, a professional swimmer, comes from a sporting background. Ian Thorpe was reared in the Milperra neighborhood by his parents, Margaret, the mother, and Ken, the father. They both placed a high emphasis on sports and wanted their children to follow in their footsteps. His father, Ken, was a junior cricket player in Sydney’s district league, representing the Bankstown District Cricket Club.
He was a talented batter who once ended higher in the season’s hitting averages than former Australian captain Bob Simpson. But fatherly pressure took away Ken’s passion for cricket, and at the age of 26, he resigned. However, Margaret, the mother of the swimmer, was an A-grade netball player who also enjoyed an athletic career. Ken and Margaret occupied their Panania home. However, the house was advertised in 2018.
Ken and Margaret had downsized from their four-room, two-bathroom home on a 564-square-meter block in Sydney’s inner southwest. In July 2014, during an interview with British syndicated program moderator Michael Parkison, Ian came out as gay.
That year, Thorpe’s father said that he was unaware of Ian’s homosexuality. But Ian had just come out as straight. The swimmer is also very lucky to have such understanding parents. The parents of Ian Thorpe were instrumental in helping him achieve all of these career goals.
Ian Thorpe Siblings And Family Tree
English is the paternal ancestry of Ian Thorpe. He is the younger of two siblings; Christina is the older sibling. Compared to the Olympic swimmer, she is three years older. It’s interesting to note that Christina used to swim for the Australian National Team. Former netball player Ian’s sister started swimming to help heal from her arm break. Ian would observe as his older sister competed in local swimming meets.
Ian had to try alternate activities at first because of a chlorine allergy. He played several sports, including rugby, soccer, and cricket. But what kept Ian going was his sister’s love of competitive swimming. He overcame his early dislike of chlorine and fell in love with swimming after winning his first race with his head out of the water.
Ian led the NSW squad at the Australian Primary School Championships in 1994 at the age of twelve. Doug Frost, their coach, sent Ian to the Atlanta 1996 trials, where his sister Christina placed second in the 400-meter freestyle. Ian went for experience.
Christina achieved overall NSW under-age records while competing in 13 events, and in 1996 she placed second in the 400-meter freestyle. After suffering a shoulder injury that eventually prevented her from playing sports, Christina declared her retirement from the sport two years later.
Also Read, Viggo Sorensen, Avivasofia, and Giselle Guilmette.
