Book 7 - Blog 1 - Ian Thorpe, The Early Years

Book Details:

Ian Thorpe, The Early Years - unauthorised biography
Pages: 154
Pages read: 154
Words on page 50: 385 (35 x 11)
Words in book: 59, 290 (averaged)

ISBN: 1-877096-12-1

Author: Will Swanton
Published: 2002 by Legend Books, Melbourne

Price: $5

Yep, another book that was bought on sale. It was bought at a discount book shop in Murray Street, Perth. I bought about 4 books, while I was there, and you will hear about them over the coming weeks. See, not only is Jimmy a bargain hunter, but if Jimmy paid say $30 (average price for a new book from the Gold Plated Borders book store), it would be over $1,500 this year alone, just to read one book per week. This way, it will cost an average of say $5 per book, which will be about $250 for the year. Jimmy loves that, but understans that Borders will have to cut back on some of the diamond casings. Poor dears.

Now, onto Ian Thorpe. This book is one of those ones that not only have I read it before I start blogging, but it is one where you love the subject even more after you have read the book. Ian Thorpe really is the epitomy of all things mature (for a young successful guy), all things committed and all things focused and driven to achieve all of his life goals.

Will, like others (particularly) that have put together unauthorsied biographies, did an amazing job of researching this book. He really was thorough, and he covered every base during the life of Ian Thorpe, up to the time of writing, which was pretty much, just after the 2000 Olympics.

Look, Ian Thorpe is the man, we all love him, we all admire him, we all try to relate to him, and we all want him to keep representing Australia and living his dream (and ours).

Strangely enough, Ian Thorpe only started swimming because his sister was a swimmer, and he got sick of going to her training. He jumped in one day, and kept swimming. Go you good thing. It was evident from early on that he was going to be successful. He just had it, apparently. He had a great stroke. Even more importantly, he had big feet ... Apparently, they are like flippers. They push him through the water like an outboard motor, and he uses them to produce a turn of speed at will. His big feet got him into drama at one stage though. Get this - a German swim trainer, although never stating tha the was talking about Thorpe, said publicly one day that big feet are a sign of performance enhancing drug taking. What a load of crap, of course, but Ian Thorpe took it personally, and to prove his innocence decided to be the first tested for drugs at the Sydney Olympics. Go son, step up and prove them wrong.

By the way, he smashed them at the Olympics, his first and went home with golds and silvers. Go again, son.

In his personal life, he is very human, and donates oodles of cash to charities, particularly cancer research. This is due to him having a young mate that had to recover from cancer. His mate was (and probably still is) his best friend. He made every effort to help his buddy, and connected him with famous sports stars, and did everything to brighten his spirits. As you should, as a famous personality. Good on Thorpey, though.

Actally, I have got too much to write, so I might do anohter Blog about this book.

See you soon. Keep reading.

Jimmy