Ian Thorpe, the legendary Australian swimmer known as the "Thorpedo," won five Olympic gold medals across his career, making him Australia's most decorated Olympian in the pool.

Olympic Gold Breakdown

Thorpe's Olympic triumphs came at two Games, showcasing his dominance in freestyle events:

Games| Gold Medals Won| Events
---|---|---
2000 Sydney| 3| 400m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x200m freestyle relay 17
2004 Athens| 2| 200m freestyle, 400m freestyle 67

He also earned silvers and bronzes, but those five golds cemented his legacy as a freestyle powerhouse who set 23 world records.

Beyond Olympics: A Medal Haul

Thorpe's success extended far wider—imagine a teenager bursting onto the scene at 15, already grabbing headlines. At Commonwealth Games, he snagged 10 golds (a shared Australian record), including six at Manchester 2002. World Championships? 11 golds there too, the fifth-most for any male swimmer. Pan Pacifics and other meets added even more, with sources tallying up to 30+ total golds across majors.

Career Highlights

  • 1998 Breakthrough : Four golds at Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games as a 15-year-old phenom.
  • World Records Galore : 22-23 records from 100m to 800m freestyle, revolutionizing the sport.
  • Awards : Swimming World Swimmer of the Year four times (a first), Young Australian of the Year 2000.
  • Retirement & Legacy: Retired post-2006 comeback, inducted into halls of fame; still inspires as a broadcaster and advocate.

No major updates since his 2006 retirement—his tally stands firm as of 2026 sources.

TL;DR : Five Olympic golds, but 20-30+ total across elite events. A true Aussie icon.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.