50 greatest Summer Olympians in history
By John Buhler
14. Ian Thorpe, Swimming.
Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe stands as one of the best freestylers in Olympic history. Over the course of two Summer Games (Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004), Thorpe took home nine Olympic medals (five gold, three silver, and one bronze).
Thorpe shined in the 2000 Olympics in his native Australia, winning gold in the 400 m freestyle, the 4×100 m freestyle, and the 4×200 m freestyle. He earned two silver medals in the Sydney Games as well (in the 200 m freestyle and the 4×100 individual medley relay).
In the 2004 Athens Games, Thorpe would win four more additional Olympic medals (two gold, one silver, and one bronze).
Citing nagging injuries and a lack of motivation, Thorpe retired from swimming shortly after the Athens Games. He would try to make the Australian team once more in 2012, but ultimately failed to qualify. For a two-Olympiad period, though, Thorpe was the bar-none fastest swimmer on Earth.
Next: 13. Teofilo Stevenson.