Busy lives lead to Ian Thorpe and boyfriend Ryan Channing splitting

Champion swimmer Ian Thorpe exclusively revealed to Confidential that rumours he has split from his partner of four-years is true. Only months ago they visited a reproductive clinic in hopes of becoming parents.

• Thorpe: ‘I would love being a father’
• How Thorpie made peace with himself

EXCLUSIVE: Olympic champion Ian Thorpe’s first long-term relationship has ended, with the swimmer and his partner Ryan Channing going their separate ways.

Channing confirmed the split on Saturday, saying their increasingly busy lives made it difficult to continue the four-year relationship.

Ryan Channing and Ian Thorpe have split after dating for four years. Picture: Instagram/@ryanchanning

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“Yes the rumours are true, we have parted ways,” Channing said. “It has all been very amicable. We have stayed friends. We have just gone our separate ways.

“We are both very busy so it is really just not the same as it was before. I have moved out.”

The split comes just months after the high-profile couple revealed they hoped to become parents and had visited a reproductive clinic in Los Angeles, California.

Thorpie revealed their increasingly busy lives led to their separation. Picture: Instagram/@ryanchanning

The pair hope to remain friends. Picture: Brett Costello

When asked how Thorpe, who has spoken openly about his mental health issues and the fact he has struggled with depression since his teenage years, was coping with the split, Channing said: “I am not too sure, that is something you would need to ask him directly.”

But he added: “I am doing fine. We are still friends.

“When we started the relationship I was in a different situation to what I am now. I was working as a paralegal and now I have this massive skincare company and we are both travelling a lot.

“I wasn’t as busy before when we were together.”

The champion swimmer confirmed he has moved out. Picture: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy

While children and marriage are off the cards, Channing said he hopes to remain close friends with Thorpe, who during his stellar career won five Olympic gold medals.

“We had great times and there is probably still more to come because we remain good friends and still talk,” he said. “It is still happy days, we have just drifted apart,”