Thieves have broken into the luxury car of swimming star Ian Thorpe, stealing a swimming bag that contained a treasured watch.
Thorpe's Audi TT coupe was broken into between 10am and noon yesterday while it was parked in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Glebe.
Thorpe today appealed for help to find the watch.
"The watch that's missing has great sentimental value to me and I would really appreciate it being returned," Thorpe said through his manager, Dave Flaskas.
Mr Flaskas said the Omega watch, which features the Olympic emblem, had been presented to Thorpe at last year's Athens Olympics.
"Ian did a photo shoot with [fellow swimming stars] Michael Phelps and Alex Popov in Athens, and it was given to him at that shoot," he said.
"It means a lot to him."
Thorpe has also been an ambassador for Omega since 1997.
Mr Flaskas, who was with Thorpe at the time, said the break-in had clearly upset the 200-metres and 400-metres world record holder, who had been in Glebe to record a radio interview.
"We walked around the corner and saw the window had been smashed," he said.
"Obviously it was distressing."
The rest of the car was untouched and the broken window would be replaced today, Mr Flaskas said.
Leichhardt police crime manager Dave Miller said Thorpe's swimming bag was found nearby - minus the watch.
"The swimming bag was recovered a short distance away but the watch wasn't recovered," he said.
"A small amount of money is still missing."
Thorpe has been recovering from a recent illness and returned to competitive swimming only last month, as he begins preparations for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
Sergeant Miller said police were investigating the incident but had not identified any suspects.
AAP