- The swimming legend received some bad news earlier this month.
- He was one of the stars of Channel Nine’s Paris Olympics in August
Australian sports legend Ian Thorpe has been photographed looking down at Sydney Airport landfills shortly after receiving bad news about one of his real estate properties.
The five-time Olympic gold medal winner, 42, was seen preparing to fly solo out of the city this week, dressed casually in a T-shirt, sneakers and a pair of baggy pants as he carried his luggage to the terminal. .
Thorpe took a $200,000 hit to his pocket earlier this month when it was revealed he had re-listed his home in one of Sydney’s most exclusive suburbs for sale with a price tag of $3.5 million.
That is less than the $3.7 million he was originally asking for the property in Woollahra, in the city’s east, after failing to find a buyer.
The Sydney 2000 Olympics hero bought the gorgeous four-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment for $2.75 million in December 2017.
Its exquisite two-story property covers an area of 250 square meters and features spacious rooms, an outdoor swimming pool and a stunning outdoor tropical garden.
Thorpe has carried out extensive renovations and also features open plan living areas, a stunning remodeled terrace and elegant sliding doors.
It is perfect for families and entertaining, and is located in a highly desirable location close to a variety of shopping centers.
Ian Thorpe is pictured at Sydney Airport earlier this week, shortly after taking a big hit in his back pocket for a piece of real estate.
The 42-year-old was one of the faces of Channel Nine at the Paris Olympics while commentating on swimming earlier this year.
In 2023, real estate agent Courtney Wong said the house is the “best” in the area, situated away from a busy street.
“It’s completely private and secluded,” he added.
A description of the property reads: “For those looking for a private getaway with all the amenities of a luxury home, this is everything you could have dreamed of and more.”
“A true hidden gem in the quiet rear of a boutique block of just six, this residence represents the perfect blend of modernity and the natural world with its contemporary architectural design in a tranquil, leafy setting.”
Thorpe, who starred in Channel Nine’s swimming commentary team for the Paris Olympics, made a devastating admission public in September.
He revealed that an irregular drug test result plunged him into such a deep depression that he considered taking his own life.
When a French newspaper revealed the result, Thorpe obtained medical evidence that cleared his name and sued the publication for reporting that his sample had elevated levels of testosterone and luteinizing hormone.
‘Thorpedo’ had hoped to sell his stunning home (pictured) in one of Sydney’s most exclusive suburbs for $3.7 million, but was forced to lower the price earlier this month.
At the time, the revelation was so devastating that he did not want to leave his house, feeling that his mental health issues needed to be resolved personally and contemplating making an attempt on his own life and staging it as an accident.
‘An irregular test is not uncommon. They happen. So no one should know that information in the first place,” Thorpe said.
‘An irregular test means nothing. An irregular test is discarded.
It was one of the many pressures Thorpe experienced during his racing career.
At 14, Thorpe didn’t believe he deserved to compete at the World Championships, wondering if winning the same tournament at 15 was a “fluke” and at 17 he felt increasing pressure to win gold at the Sydney Olympics.
‘People assumed an outcome that had not yet happened. I was with my mother in the store and people were saying, ‘We have tickets to the Olympics, we can’t wait to see you win your first gold medal,'” she said.
‘I couldn’t escape that part. Then he started promoting himself more and more. I was surrounded by it.’