Talk:Ian Thorpe/Archive 2

Dead links
Reference 7, 135, and 224 are dead. Also, under the 2002 Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships section, on the bottom of the paragraph, there is reference that appears not be be entered correctly. It's after reference 177.Philipmj24 (talk) 23:32, 26 June 2010 (UTC)

His Secrets

Ian Thorpe is gay.he had sex with 3 men at once a fan took a video without him knowing and the video has been deleted.

Post-Retirement
Has he done anything else since retiring? Alec scheat (talk) 03:22, 17 August 2010 (UTC)
 * He has been studying psychology and linguistics at Macquarie University, Sydney: . --Rofish (talk) 02:40, 20 March 2011 (UTC)

Blatant errors
"was the Australian swimmer of the year from 1999 to 2003" If you actually bothered to look, he was Australian swimming of the year from 1998-2002, then again in 2004. 2.28.46.254 (talk) 10:38, 29 July 2012 (UTC)
 * I bothered to look at Swimming Australia and it says 1999-2003. Perhaps you are confused by Thorpe being Swimming World Magazine Pacific Rim Swimmer of the Year in 1998-2002 and 2004? Gap9551 (talk) 09:43, 13 August 2012 (UTC)

"Thorpey"
In my experience Australians, especially, nickname everyone by adding "-ey" to their names. I'm wondering therefore if "Thorpey" is really noteworthy enough to include in the article, especially so prominently. 86.181.203.46 (talk) 20:31, 20 August 2012 (UTC)

Ian Thorpe's retirement
On the 21st November 2006, Ian Thorpe announced his retirement at age 24. During the press conference that he gave, Thorpe said that it was time for him to quit. Thorpe's motivation in swimming had been waning, as he also declared that none of his goals included breaking any more world records, because it wasn't as aspiring as before. Swimming no longer topped the list of Thorpe's interests, and there were suggestions that he wanted to start a career in television or film. As Thorpe announced his retirement, he however expressed indecision and remorse as he said that he didn't think he should be retiring because he was too young to retire; and that his decision was difficult.

At age 22, Thorpe, who was still involved in competitive swimming, signed a contract with television group FOXTEL, in 2005. The deal was appropriate for Thorpe, who, even before retirement, had already contemplated the idea of starting a career in television. In Thorpe's own words: '[t]elevision has already been a wonderful learning curve for me and I now have the opportunity with FOXTEL to further develop my media and television career'. The deal with FOXTEL enabled Thorpe to host his own prime time series for FOX8, FOXTEL's most popular channel. Brian Walsh, FOXTEL's Executive Director Of Television and Marketing, said the deal was a 'long-term' one. At the time, the television projects eyed by FOXTEL and in which Ian Thorpe could collaborate, were the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Contracting Ian Thrope was a milestone for FOXTEL. Thorpe was indeed an Olympic champion; and according to Brian Walsh, he had 'immeasurable appeal to young Australians'. As Thorpe voiced his excitement about joining the FOXTEL team and further developing his television career, Brian Walsh voiced Thorpe's desire to learn more about the television industry; adding that 'FOXTEL can provide him [Ian Thorpe] with the opportunity and flexibility to work across a number of different genres and channels on our platform'. At FOXTEL, one of Thorpe's first roles was to star in a new marketing campaign alongside other FOXTEL personalities, including Hugh Jackman, Andrew G, James Mathison, Antonia Kidman, Wayne Carey, Laurie Daley, Brendan Moar, Jason Dundas, Erika Heynatz, and Asher Keddie.


 * Also, there should be a mention that he retired the day after he refused to be drug tested by ASADA
 * These are facts. The readers can make their own decisions, but history should not be buried, just because this person has too many friends who constantly edit this page with bias towards the "heroic" memories. Look at the history of the page and you will see a PR machine at work 121.44.60.14 (talk) 01:16, 25 August 2012 (UTC)

Untitled
Shouldn't there be something about things named after him? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 60.240.214.156 (talk) 08:44, 26 August 2010 (UTC)

His birth length does seem unusual? surely it should be mm not m ?? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 101.103.15.140 (talk) 01:00, 2 October 2012 (UTC)

Allegations of homosexuality
Seriously, why is there no mention of his alleged homosexuality in the article? It doesn't need to say he's gay, it just needs to make reference to the continual speculations about his sexuality by those members of the public who have eyes and ears and aren't stupid. His effeminate speaking manner was what started it a decade ago, but since then his involvement in Australian fashion and other traditionally non-heterosexual pursuits has only resulted in a pile of evidence a mile high. Also, his "girlfriend"'s name is "beard" which... I mean, come on. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 165.69.90.8 (talk) 06:42, 30 January 2009 (UTC)
 * It is, in the personal life section. Also I changed the subject title to a less inflammatory one per WP:BLP.  YellowMonkey  ( click here to vote for world cycling's #1 model! ) 06:58, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

I don't understand what the wikipedia rules are for something like homosexuality. Here we have a case of Ian Thorpe being a full blooded rampaging homo even though he lies about it. Are we able to put that he is gay in the article or he have to come out before we can put that in? I understand it is hard for him as sponsor dollars may be more hard to come by if he admits he is a fudge packer and that doesn't sit with their corporate image. What about a hypothetical case where an individual like Thorpe gets arrested for lewd acts with a homosexual prostitute and gets convicted by a court. Does he have to still admit to being gay or would the court ruling enough to put on wikipedia that Thorpe is a poofter? As always I understand the conflict for right to privacy vs public access to these big dollar public figures. 60.240.14.140 (talk) 06:05, 6 February 2011 (UTC)


 * So, you know for a fact that he is gay, do you? You've seen him having sex with men, have you?  You've seen pictures of him in compromising positions with other men, have you?  He's held a press conference and come out, has he?  He's told you personally, has he? You've had sex with him, have you?
 * If, as I suspect, the answer to all these questions is a resounding "NO", then please go away and do something useful. We need a reliable source to categorise someone as LGBT.  Your offensive rumour-mongering is hardly that.  --   Jack of Oz   [your turn]  06:44, 6 February 2011 (UTC)

JackOfOz: YOU are homophobic! Why would being labelled "gay" be considered "offensive"? It's not the worst thing in the world to be! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 134.159.111.98 (talk) 04:20, 1 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Err, if you knew anything about my private life, you'd know that "homophobic" is the very last thing I would ever be. I certainly wasn't saying that there's anything wrong with being gay - I referred to the rumour-mongering as offensive, because it offends me when someone comes to an encyclopedia with a view to including ANY material for which there is ZERO evidence.  What sort of product would we have here if "what I think" was the standard of inclusion?  We'd be a laughing stock.
 * I am simply countering these claims of "Ian Thorpe being a full blooded rampaging homo even though he lies about it". It is no different from any other claim for which there is no evidence.  If you claim he's a Uruguayan polo player, I'd ask the same questions: Where is the evidence?  Who is the reliable source?  Why do you believe this?  Actually, scrub that last one.  I couldn't care less why you believe this, because it's irrelevant.  Wikipedia is about verifiability as opposed to "Truth".  If all your mates say Thorpe's gay, does that make it true?  Nope.  If a dozen reputable newspapers said he's gay, does that make it true?  Still nope, but at least we could include those sources, because they're reliable.  --   Jack of Oz   [your turn]  02:59, 20 March 2011 (UTC)

He is definitely gay though isn't he? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 94.174.91.157 (talk) 10:17, 29 July 2012 (UTC)

This recent article from The Daily Telegraph brings up Ian Thorpe's sexuality again ( http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9468616/Ian-Thorpe-am-I-gay-Its-at-the-stage-I-just-say-whatever.html ). This time, though, Thorpe says that he 'ticks all the boxes', implying that he is bisexual. This is definitely a noteworthy statement, and should probably be quoted in the 'Homosexuality' section. 70.138.217.107 (talk) 04:02, 13 August 2012 (UTC)
 * Read the article again - when he says "I tick all the boxes", its clearly because he feels he's perceived to fit some of the stereotypes of homosexuality - to quote, "his svelte looks, cultured interests and friendships". --The Thieving Gypsy (talk) 21:54, 14 November 2012 (UTC)


 * That's right. He's acknowledging he understands why people might think he's gay, that's all it means.  But as for whether he is actually gay - he has yet again denied it.  So, on that basis, in response to He is definitely gay though isn't he? - the answer is still NO.  --   Jack of Oz   [Talk]  22:34, 14 November 2012 (UTC)

The article currently states "In 2002, Thorpe finally denied this rumour, asserting that he was heterosexual." Why the emphasis of "finally"? This would imply that he had been avoiding the issue for a considerable time - yet in 2002, when he "eventually" denied the rumour, he was still only 20... --The Thieving Gypsy (talk) 22:00, 14 November 2012 (UTC)


 * Yes, that "finally" could usefully go. He's denying it all over again now in 2012, so ....  --   Jack of Oz   [Talk]  22:34, 14 November 2012 (UTC)

Chlorine allergy
This would seem to me to be a pretty huge disadvantage to overcome. Does anyone know how he overcame it? LookingGlass (talk) 16:04, 18 March 2014 (UTC)

Quote from Parkinson interview
I think the section on Thorpe's sexuality should have one of the following quotes (from News.com.au and ABC) “I’m comfortable saying I’m a gay man. And I don’t want people to feel the same way I did. You can grow up, you can be comfortable and you can be gay.” “A part of me didn’t know if Australia wanted its champion to be gay. I am telling not only Australia I’m telling the world that I am and I hope this makes it easier for others now.” -- Aronzak (talk) 12:38, 13 July 2014 (UTC)


 * I think it's already becoming time that we took the emphasis off how he told the world. He's gay. So what? Lots of people are gay. For most gay people it wouldn't even crack a mention. If it must be mentioned, just put it somewhere in the article, once, and lets' all move on. HiLo48 (talk) 20:09, 13 July 2014 (UTC)

Can we put the "gay" thing in context?
Right now the Sexuality section begins in a somewhat accusatory manner with "After years of denial..." I'd love to see the whole thing dropped, because his sexuality should never have been an issue, but it obviously was, and still is, sadly. I understand he was first asked about it by a journalist when he was 15! What on earth was this all about? Why WAS his sexuality an issue? I didn't see the Parkinson interview. Was there more context provided there? If we must have this in the article, let's build the picture a little better. HiLo48 (talk) 08:33, 14 July 2014 (UTC)


 * Thorpe had some effeminate mannerisms since he first entered the public spotlight. Of course some daring journo was going to ask the question. It was Thorpe's business to deny or confirm as he saw fit. It is unfortunate that he chose a $400,000 interview to come out. Was his intention pure, or was it clouded by "pay for gay"? WWGB (talk) 10:58, 14 July 2014 (UTC)


 * That only marginally and speculatively answered one of my questions. Do you think what's in the article right now is ideal? HiLo48 (talk) 11:22, 14 July 2014 (UTC)


 * You're asking why his sexuality was an issue. It's not really the job of this talk page, or the article, to address that question.  Clearly, it's long been a matter of great interest to many people, and that's the fact we're dealing with here.  Why else would Channel 10 have promoted the interview with a clip of Parky asking the question "Are you gay?".  Clearly, it was that issue, and nothing about his swimming career or post-career activities, that was the hook.  He's been asked the question over and over again since he was 15 or 16.  Why did people keep asking him the same question after all his categorical denials?  Probably because of the massive mismatch between those denials on the one hand, and his campy way of talking on the other.  Not that camp necessarily equals homosexual, but where was the string of girlfriends, or even a single steady partner, that a supposedly straight man would normally have had?  Now that he's come out, half the the world is saying "So what, it was always obvious, what's the big deal?".  But I bet most of those people were glued to the Parky interview just to see him say what they always knew.


 * The thing that this raises is: Why are public figures considered public property when it comes to stuff like this? You wouldn't dare ask anyone else whether they're gay or not.  If they are, and if they want to disclose that fact, they will do so in their own way and in their own time, and to whomever they choose.  But with Thorpe, it was "We, the public, have a right to know, and we will persist until you tell us the truth".  That's how it seems.  Many people say "It's none of anyone's business but his", and that's right, but I bet many of them watched the Parky interview too.


 * "After years of denial": That's a matter of record.  He did deny it, in spoken word, and in writing, many times.  He'll probably have to go back and pulp his autobiography containing his denial, and reissue it with a somewhat different story now.  But look at how it started.  He burst onto the world stage at age 15 or 16, and Australia had a new hero.  But he seemed campy, so some dickhead journo thought he had the right to ask him about his sexuality.  He denied it.  He might never have had any sexual experience at all at that age, who knows.  That denial was fair enough.  Then as his career blossomed, as he explained, he didn't want to feel like he was letting his country down by tarnishing the ideal image of the tanned, golden, straight swimming hero, so he felt he had to keep on denying his sexuality.  But it caught up with him.  Depression, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, a life that should have been wonderful, but wasn't.  He's paid a heavy price for that.  So, the denials are very much part of the story, and we can't just talk about his coming out in 2014 without also saying something about his earlier multiple denials.  I agree, though, that it shouldn't read as if he's finally come clean about being a kleptomaniac or a con man or an ice freak or a serial killer.  There's no crime in being gay, and there's no crime in denying one's gayness, but as he said, when it comes down to a matter of integrity, that's what's the most important thing. And that's what lay behind his coming out now. --   Jack of Oz   [pleasantries]  22:02, 14 July 2014 (UTC)

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Ian Thorpe is accually gay he had sex with a man 32 aged.A fan had followed him when he was going to his holididay hotel with a man and took a video but cant be shown.

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