the17thman

"Ian Thorpe is much slower these days"

The headline of the article is "Ian Thorpe is much slower these days" which means he is slower than Michael Phelps but able to lap me swimming 100 yards.  Over the weekend Thorpe celebrated his 27th birthday and the Daily Telegraph ran a short blurb LINK about his bday:

But with his swimming career behind him, Thorpe has taken his life back and is concentrating on psychology studies at Macquarie University and reducing the scale of his life.

Hence, it comes as no surprise that he will be celebrating his birthday quietly with family and friends.

Happy Belated Birthday Ian!

Ian Thorpe at The Beyond Sport Conference

Thorpe Joins Fight Club

Looks like Ian Thorpe is moving out of the pool and into the ring.  Thorpe is considering joining Fight Club which supports charities.  At a match last week Trpe was interested but didn't commit to joining the Fight Club.  According to the Sydney Morning Herald:

If Thorpe signs on to fight he will be put through 10 weeks of “torture sessions” including sandhill runs, boxing and sparring sessions, long-distance runs, sprints, weights and other drills.

Sounds interesting.  Thorpe is a big big man to begin with so he'd be no pushover.  The one thing that may stand in his way is his studies.  Thorpe has been putting most of his life on the backburner while he is attending university.  Personally I'd rather see him compete on Rexona's Greatest Athlete Australia. 

Ian Thorpe Speaks Out Against Poverty

Thorpe’s voice had a commitment and a passion every bit as powerful as his Evinrude six-beat kick when he spoke of the need for Australia to give a fair go to Aboriginal people.

“I did not think it was possible that in this country we had extreme poverty,” Ian said as special guest speaking at Moy Sweetman’s Frangipani Dreams Giving Hope fundraising breakfast that will aid Aboriginal communities and others in South Africa. - source

Thorpedo Turns Back On TV Career For University

Ian Thorpe is rumored to have decided not to renew his lucrative million-dollar television contract as the has "lost interest" in a career on television as he concentrates on university.  Foxtell which had Thorpe under contract claims that they are still in discussions with Thorpe and is management for the 010 Commonwealth Games as well as the 2010 and 2012 Olympics.  Thorpes manager confirmed that Thorpe has recently taken on more courses so that he may finish his studies by 2012.  Source:  The Daily Telegraph

Ian Thorpe's Freestyle Flipturn Slowmo Video

I stumbled on this video by accident but it's a pretty good one to watch for a good freestyle flipturn.  But before the video yesterday while walking to the bank I was handed a coupon from a sub/sandwich shop and as I looked at the coupon for a Tasty Torpedo sandwich I so thought they misspelled Torpedo cuz' of course I think Thorpedo.  Doh!

Ian Thorpe A Virgin?

With Ian Thorpe's sponsorship deal with Qantas Airlines now expired it has been rumored that Thorpe will sign with Virgin Australia Airlines.  Thrope has been chummy with Virgin founder Richard Branson even hosting a charity relay for Virgin Active at the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Center.  It always amazes me how the Aussie's still follow the adventures of the Thorpedo even after his retirement from swimming.  Makes you wonder how long the US Press will cover Phelps after 2012.  Most likely Phelps will fade away like Rowdy Gaines.  But at least with all the take at this years Olympics about Phelps breaking Mark Spitz gold olympic medal count has given Spitz a new marketin life.  This week Spitz teamed up with the drug lobbying group Pharma to spread the lobby the general public about the need "keep funding pharmaceutical research in these tough economic times."  The big companies like Lily want a piece of the stimulus package.  At least the stimulus package will keep one former Olympic swimmer employed.

Virgin & Thorpe Source
Spitz Source

Ian Thorpe's Thoughts On Swim Tech Suits

Ian Thorpe was asked by the Aussie press how he feels about the new swim tech suits.  The following is some of his response:

"If you look at it historically, swimsuits have progressed since the early 1900s,"

"When we talk about the swimsuits now the claims of how much they improve performance have been less significant than some of the claims that have been made in the past.

The only question that I may agree with some people is the fairness at that kind of intermediate level, when we are talking about kids wearing these things.

We know that they are more expensive and so that people have equal access to what they swim in, I think we can make some new judgement and assessments on that kind of level."

I've updated this post to include this older picture of Thorpe in his Adidas suit which owuld be banned by the proposed FINA swim suit restrictions. 

Thorpe as at an event "coaching" billionaire Sir Richard Branson in a promotion for Virgin Active Health Club.  source

Thorpedo Blasts Into West Hollywood

Ian Thorpe and 150 Aussies stormed Chateau Marmont  in West Hollywood in a Pre-Oscar party to celebrate the late Heath Ledger.  The event hosted by Australian's In Film also honored Ledger by giving away scholarship tp an aspiring Aussie actor/actress. Read More HERE.

Umm..Ian just to let you know I'm in walking distance to the Marmont in case you happen to need a place to crash.  Just saying.

Thorpedo Surfaces At NY Fashion Week

Ian Thorpe is in NY for Fashion Week.  Shown here in the photo at the Y-3 show.

Thorpe took in the Y-3 show, which is the designer label of the sportswear brand adidas.  A spokesman for Thorpe said the former Olympic swimmer was invited to the event as he is an ambassador for the brand - source