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| Star Thorpe announces retirement | Star Thorpe announces retirement |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Five-time Olympic champion Ian Thorpe has stunned the world of swimming by retiring at the age of 24. | Five-time Olympic champion Ian Thorpe has stunned the world of swimming by retiring at the age of 24. |
| The Australian won three gold medals at the 2000 Games in Sydney and added two titles in Athens four years later. | The Australian won three gold medals at the 2000 Games in Sydney and added two titles in Athens four years later. |
| But he has barely competed since then because of injury and fatigue, and told a news conference in Sydney he had been weighing up his future for some time. | But he has barely competed since then because of injury and fatigue, and told a news conference in Sydney he had been weighing up his future for some time. |
| "I've had a great career. It isn't the best time to be walking away from the sport but it's my time," he said. | "I've had a great career. It isn't the best time to be walking away from the sport but it's my time," he said. |
| "I don't think I should be retiring, I think I'm far too young to retire, but it's a thing that we should be celebrating. I've had a great career. | "I don't think I should be retiring, I think I'm far too young to retire, but it's a thing that we should be celebrating. I've had a great career. |
| "It's a decision that has been difficult. I realise that there's things in my life that are more important for me. | "It's a decision that has been difficult. I realise that there's things in my life that are more important for me. |
| "I've reached all the dizzying heights of this sport. I've had a tremendous amount of success and I've also had setbacks. | "I've reached all the dizzying heights of this sport. I've had a tremendous amount of success and I've also had setbacks. |
| "None of my goals included breaking any more world records. I knew how to do it, but it wasn't as inspiring as it should have been." | "None of my goals included breaking any more world records. I knew how to do it, but it wasn't as inspiring as it should have been." |
| Born in Sydney, Thorpe first swam for his country at the age of 14 and set the first of his 13 world records a year later. | Born in Sydney, Thorpe first swam for his country at the age of 14 and set the first of his 13 world records a year later. |
| In addition to his Olympic success, he went on to claim 11 world titles and 10 Commonwealth Games gold medals, six of which he gained in Manchester in 2002. | In addition to his Olympic success, he went on to claim 11 world titles and 10 Commonwealth Games gold medals, six of which he gained in Manchester in 2002. |
| Swimming has been a security blanket but I haven't balanced out my life Ian Thorpe | Swimming has been a security blanket but I haven't balanced out my life Ian Thorpe |
| But he missed the 2005 World Championships after deciding to take a year off and pulled out of the Commonwealth Games this year because of glandular fever. | But he missed the 2005 World Championships after deciding to take a year off and pulled out of the Commonwealth Games this year because of glandular fever. |
| The Australian sporting icon moved to Los Angeles this year and rumours were rife that he was losing motivation. | The Australian sporting icon moved to Los Angeles this year and rumours were rife that he was losing motivation. |
| He was expected to announce his withdrawal from next month's national trials, ruling him out of next year's World Championships in Melbourne. | He was expected to announce his withdrawal from next month's national trials, ruling him out of next year's World Championships in Melbourne. |
| However, speculation that he was thinking of going much further than that was confirmed to a packed news conference. | However, speculation that he was thinking of going much further than that was confirmed to a packed news conference. |
| There are suggestions that he might now look into a career in television or film. | |
| "Swimming has been a security blanket but I haven't balanced out my life. I realised I had to prioritise other things and let swimming take a backseat," Thorpe added. | "Swimming has been a security blanket but I haven't balanced out my life. I realised I had to prioritise other things and let swimming take a backseat," Thorpe added. |
| "I'm looking at the next phase and that means I'm realigning what the most important thing is for me to do. | "I'm looking at the next phase and that means I'm realigning what the most important thing is for me to do. |
| "Swimming is not at the top of the list, which has not happened before." | "Swimming is not at the top of the list, which has not happened before." |