Ian Thorpe on being bullied as he hosts new ABC factual series The Bully Project

EXCLUSIVE: IAN Thorpe, whose fame resulted in him being bullied into revealing he is gay, will draw on his own experiences — targeted for his sporting success and sexuality —- as host of a new TV series, The Bully Project.

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EXCLUSIVE

When Australia first met swimmer Ian Thorpe, it was as a painfully shy 14-year-old whose r­ecord-breaking talent in the pool would propel him to the top of the sporting world.

But with the gold medals and public adulation came a personal struggle with sudden fame and the overwhelming interest that has never let up about his sexuality and private life.

Now aged 33, the openly gay former Olympic and world champion swim star is standing tall to use his tumultuous times in the spotlight as the empathetic host of a new ABC factual series The Bully Project.

Ian Thorpe said he was targeted when he returned to school as a world champion swimmer. Picture: Richard Dobson

The aspiring television presenter won out in an audition process to front the three-part special, which will spearhead a new programming initiative on the bullying crisis planned by the public broadcaster to air later this year.

Based on a controversial Dutch show, Project P, which armed bullied children with cameras to secretly film their harrowing experiences at school, this local version will follow at least six subjects to be cast from teenagers (aged 14+) in Queensland, where the strict surveillance laws of other states don’t apply.

Thorpe said the program’s purpose was not to shame bullies or exploit the vision, but to arm young people with ways to overcome it.

“I thought it was important we started not only the conversation about this in Australia, but also got to a point where we’re coming up with the resolutions as well … a lot needs to be done,” Thorpe said.

His understanding of the issue comes from his own scars, after being targeted by a number of teachers at his high school when he returned to Year 10 classes in Sydney’s southwest as a world champion.

“Instantly I stuck out and it’s one of those things that all you want in your teenage years is to fit in,” he said.

Ian Thorpe says happily in a relationship with swimwear model Ryan Channing. Picture: Supplied

“People would question why I was at school. They were either great about it, or I had some experiences with teachers who really had this issue  around the fact I’d been successful.

“That was the minority, I must insist … but it only takes one (bully)  and it can really affect you.”

While not being sporty can often subject kids to teasing in Australian schools, Thorpe felt the ­reverse — too distraught to speak up or complain about his mistreatment.

Over-achieving in the pool, Thorpe felt too ashamed about feeling so vulnerable at school to raise the issue with his parents.

“There’s some guilt … at times it’s probably easier not to mention it, but when I’ve spoken with young people about this, it’s a similar kind of thing (for them) … they’re not prepared to tell someone because they don’t want to include (parents), involve them, to burden them with this, or think it’s going to stop.”

Ian Thorpe of Australia in his East Hills Boys High School uniform at the Sydney International Aquatic Centre in 1997 after winning five Olympic Games gold medals. Picture: Getty Images

Ian Thorpe with proud parents Marg and Ken after winning gold in the 4X200m freestyle relay in 1998. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Ian Thorpe at 15.

So distressed by the bullying, Thorpe said, it added to his decision to home school in the two years leading up to his triumph at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. The relentless probing about whether he was gay also plagued him during his swimming career.

He finally felt comfortable enough to come out in a TV tell-all with British broadcaster Michael Parkinson after his retirement from the sport two years ago.

At the time, he spoke about his long battle with depression and alcohol abuse, for which he sought treatment at a rehab clinic in 2014.

“I feel as though people were trying to force me out of the closet when I didn’t even know myself. I really didn’t, or at least I wasn’t sure. I felt like if I’d been given a little bit more time, perhaps I would have comfortably been able to do it ... but I was just trying to fit in,” he said.

Ian Thorpe revealed to Sir Michael Parkinson that he was gay in July 2014. Picture: Supplied / Network Ten

First asked about his sexuality when he was 16, he said he “struggled for a long time not wanting to be gay and hoping I wasn’t in some way. I guess I thought of everything I’d want in my life, a family, things like that. I was so young, I was trying to be everything for everyone and not having the confidence to just be myself”.

He makes his first appearance at a Mardi Gras event today, on a panel with other gay athletes Matthew Mitcham and Daniel Kowalski. Happily in a new relationship with model Ryan Channing, 24, Thorpe said he was keen to protect the fledgling romance: “We’re both great and enjoying getting to know each other.”

* For those Queensland teenagers aged 14+ or their parents interested in participating in The Bully Project, go to: www.stopbullying.tv

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