Ian Thorpe was born in Paddington, Australia on 13th October 1982. His father, Ken, alwa

ys wanted him to be a cricketer. But when Ian overcame a childhood allergy to chlorine, his only dream was to join his sister Christine in the pool.

It’s easy to see why. His 1.95 metres, 96 kilos and size 54 feet give him an awesome presence in the water. It was his feet which brought him his first nickname, “Flipper”. He swims so fast that he seems to fly through the water. So how did it all start？

Thorpe made his first appearance in international competition at the age of 14. His greatest feat came only three years later when he won three gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. His success and popularity have done much to raise the profile of the sport.

Australia is a nation of water babies. 85% of its population live within 30 miles of the beach and its swimmers enjoy a pin-up status similar to footballers like David Beckham in the UK. In fact, for a time, Thorpe was Australia’s number one national hero. There were special Australian stamps to celebrate his victories in the Olympics. Now, there is even a fragrance called “Ian Thorpe for Men” and a range of men’s underwear.

But in spite of this superstar status, Ian has a friendly relationship with the media. He is happy to discuss his love of philosophy, grunge music, Japanese food, computer games and Armani clothes. However, not all media work is light-hearted. Since his retirement from professional swimming in 2006, he has founded his own charity called “Fountain for Youth”. This organisation fights to bring positive changes to children’s lives by improving health and education, especially for Aboriginal communities in Australia.

1.What did Thorpe’s father want Ian to be？

A、A flipper

B、A cricketer

C、A swimmer

2.What is Thorpe’s first nickname？

A、Ian

B、Fountain for Youth

C、Flipper

3.What did Ian win at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games？

A、Three gold medals

B、Three silver medals

C、Three bronze medals