Ian Thorpe once again turned heads as he stepped out in support of fellow Olympic legend Michael Klim. The Australian swimming star appeared noticeably slimmer, having previously shown off his weight loss in April. Thorpe wore a sleek black suit paired with a crew neck jumper at the event, joining Noemie Fox, Ellie Cole, and Kieren Perkins to launch the Champion and Klim Foundation athletic wear collection. The collaboration aims to fund research and provide critical support for Australians living with autoimmune diseases.
Health and Lifestyle Turnaround
Thorpe's appearance marked a stark contrast to recent years, as he has successfully got his health and lifestyle back on track. Speaking on a podcast in 2022, the 'Thorpedo' said, 'I feel better than I have in a long time. I don't need to be the athlete I was before, but I still want to feel strong, healthy and capable.' The journey back to his healthiest best has been long and not without setbacks.
Setback on Reality TV
In 2024, Thorpe sparked concern when he was spotted in a wheelchair at the Olympic swimming trials in Brisbane after suffering an injury while filming the reality show Celebrity Amazing Race. Channel 7 captured images of the Australian icon being wheeled around the Brisbane Aquatic Centre, where he was working as a commentator. Despite the incident, Thorpe continued with his broadcasting duties throughout the trials. 'We're told Ian Thorpe is completely OK. But apparently the injury was a serious and painful one,' 7News reporter Chris Reason said at the time.
Focus on Brisbane 2032
At the recent Brisbane 2032 event, Thorpe appeared fully recovered and focused on the future. He offered insight into hosting a successful Olympic Games, noting that modern standards require two 50-metre pools in the same venue, a significant evolution since his own Olympic days. 'The pool's basically been filled in, so you can't use it at an appropriate height that wouldn't be dangerous for young people warming up at a competition,' Thorpe said. He stressed his role is to provide guidance rather than dictate decisions.
