Ian Thorpe at age twenty is one of the greatest and most respected athletes throughout the world. In his relatively short swimming career, Ian has broken twenty-two world records. He is currently world record holder for the 200 metres, 400 metres and 800 metres freestyle and is also a member of the world-record-breaking 4x100 and 4x200 metre freestyle relay team.
Ian has brought to being an author the same enthusiasm and commitment that has made him a world champion. And the result is as expected . . . a winner!
Ian's book Live Your Dreams has been the perfect vehicle for him to pass on to his younger fans his personal philosophy that you don't have to win to succeed. 'You have to live your own standards and make your own goals, and go out there and try and fulfil those. I am hoping this message gets through, encouraging kids to go out there and fulfil their ambitions,' Ian says.
This philosophy is weaved throughout Ian's book. Live Your Dreams provides readers with a glimpse into how Ian approaches his swimming and racing, and how he manages the pressures and attention that surround him as an elite athlete.
Working on the book was an opportunity for Ian to share what he believes about life and what he believes about sport.
Ian grew up in the south-western suburbs of Sydney. In Live your Dreams Ian tells that growing up was not all sport for him. 'I read a lot as well. The Fudge books were my favourites, and I used to read Goosebumps. I also used to read whatever my sister read. She was a bit older than I was, so that meant I was sometimes reading a bit further ahead than my friends. In one way that was good, but in another way it meant that I wasn't able to talk to my friends about the books I was enjoying.'
Ian along with his coach Tracey Menzies are working on a second book for Scholastic Australia titled Swim with Thorpie it is due for release late 2003.
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