Ian Thorpe speaks for first time since former long-term partner Ryan Channing’s death

Retired Olympic legend Ian Thorpe has given his first interview since the death of his former long-term partner Ryan Channing at just 32 years old.

Olympic great Ian Thorpe has remembered his former partner after his tragic death at the age of just 32.

The retired athlete said he felt for the family of his ex, Ryan Channing, who died in Bali earlier this month.

“This is a relationship that I had that was a long-term relationship and I feel for Ryan’s family,” Thorpe told The Daily Telegraph, speaking for the first time since Channing’s untimely death.

“I hope people are able to respect their privacy as well. I think when it is someone that is so young, it is tragic for anyone to see them passing at that kind of age.”

The cause of Channing’s death is still to be confirmed officially although it has been reported he died of an overdose of prescription medication.

Ryan Channing died in Bali earlier this month.

Channing and Ian Thorpe were in a long-term relationship before they parted ways in 2019.

Thorpe meanwhile spoke to the Telegraph as ambassador for Adidas and Parley’s annual Run for the Oceans event at Bondi Beach on June 4.

By registering with the Adidas running app, for every 10 minutes a participant runs between May 23 and June 8, they have pledged to clean up the equivalent weight of a plastic bottle from the beaches and islands.

The former Olympic swimmer and passionate environmentalist is an ambassador for the Run For The Oceans. Picture: Richard Dobson

“People need to be more aware about the amount of plastic that is going into our ocean,” Thorpe said.

“What scientists have predicted, we are actually beyond that and worse off than what we thought we would be. If it isn’t a wake up call for all of us to do more, I don’t know what is. There are little things you can do and I don’t say to everyone do it all in one go, it is making those small incremental changes so that it becomes a habit.”

Thorpe acknowledges he sounds like a politician when speaking passionately about the environment and hinted a tilt at state or federal parliament may one day be on the cards for the former athlete.

“While I feel as though I can do more on the outside of politics, I will remain on this side of it. It is an important area for me, I actually follow policies but I don’t know that it is for me,” he said.

“There may be a point where I do get as frustrated as others and won’t be able to stand on this side for any longer.”