THE 'THORPEDO'

Ex-Olympic Swimmer Ian Thorpe Comes Out

Swimming champ broke 22 world records before retiring.

Former Olympic swimming champ Ian Thorpe has revealed he is gay after years by speculation about his sexuality. Thorpe, who broke 22 world records and earned five gold medals, three silver ones and one bronze at the Olympic Games before retiring at 24, made the admission in an interview with English journalist Sir Michael Parkinson, expected to air on television Sunday night. Thorpe previously dismissed rumors in his 2012 autobiography This Is Me, when he wrote, “For the record, I am not gay and all my sexual experiences have been straight. I’m attracted to women, I love children and aspire to have a family one day … I know what it’s like to grow up and be told what your sexuality is, then realizing that it’s not the full reality. I was accused of being gay before I knew who I was.” Thorpe, now 31, was admitted to a rehabilitation facility earlier this year for help with battling depression.