Swimming legend Ian Thorpe reveals frightening exchanges with stalkers

Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe has revealed he had to have security at his home and learn defensive driving tactics to shake people chasing him, including an armed stalker.

Ian Thorpe with his medal after he won the final of the Mens 200 freestyle at the Athens Olympics 2004.

Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe has revealed he had to deal with a stalker armed with a gun during his illustrious swimming career.

It was not the only encounter with unhinged stalkers during his early 20s as he rewrote the records books in the pool.

He had to have security at his home and learn defensive driving tactics to shake people chasing him.

Thorpe has made the startling revelations on Channel 7’s This Is Your Life, on which he is feted, with the episode to air this Sunday (July 24).

“My goal was to be an Olympian, my dream, which is very different, was to be an Olympic champion,” he tells host Mel Doyle.

Ian Thorpe and Mel Doyle on the set of This Is Your Life. Picture: Channel 7

“So, I accomplished that at the Sydney Olympics. Then I started swimming again and what swimming had become was completely different.

“It had become more of a career where I had responsibilities outside of the pool. What I wanted to do was be able to train, be able to race and the other things that come along with it, I wasn’t prepared for that.

“I had to learn from the police how to be able to drive a car to be able to get past a stalker or someone following me, legally.”

Ian Thorpe celebrates after winning the men's final of 400 freestyle at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

“And I had stalkers, there was one with a gun. I had to have security at my house. Things kind of changed and I was not ready for that and I don’t think anyone in their early twenties could be.”

Thorpe has rarely spoken about his experiences with stalkers, however in 2002 a Sydney court ordered an exotic dancer and her business partner to stay away from the swimming superstar after he sought protection from their “bizarre” behaviour.

The woman, as reported at the time, moved from Queensland to Sydney, changed her name to Thorpe, wrote the swimmer notes signed “Kanga” and invited him to dinner “just as a friend”. Her male business partner penned a note to Thorpe, signed Phantom, and warned him not to wear three-quarter pants.

It is not suggested these individuals were the armed stalker Thorpe referred to on This Is Your Life.