Ian Thorpe quits
Matthew Schulz, Rebecca Williams
and AAP
November 21, 2006 12:00am
AUSTRALIA'S greatest swimmer has announced his career is over, after widespread speculation his time as a dominant force in the pool had come to an end.
At just 24, Thorpe had netted nine Olympic medals including five gold, more than any other Australian, but motivation and health problems are believed to have triggered the decision.
"I'm looking at a next phase and ... swimming is not at the top of the list," Thorpe said.
Today marked the end of a magnificent achievement by the man dubbed the Thorpedo, not long after he burst onto the world stage aged just 15 years, and became the world 400m freestyle champion beating Grant Hackett in Perth.
The champion swimmer also set 13 world records, won 10 world titles having nothing left to prove in the pool.
He made the announcement at noon today, before a huge media contingent at Sydney's Sofitel Wentworth Hotel.
Most major TV networks carried the news live across the nation.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20793146-661,00.html