1998 | Ian Thorpe | World Champion | Men's 400m Freestyle | 15 Years Old | 4.46.29

[@jarto10]

World champion with 15 years,and by his 16s he had already beaten both the 200m and 400m freestyle World Records.That with a career that had barely started,and he had already reached the top.Nobody knows where he could have become if he had reached just half of his potential.One thing is for sure,Biederman wouldn't hold a candle to him.

[@Fuzcapp]

Hackett was in shock for the next 12 years.

[@daveswagger4018]

Hope those people who moan on the suit issue will be able to watch this.

[@serenityflies1462]

I'm not into celebrities, but I would love to meet Ian Thorpe, he seems so lovely!! 🙂🙂

[@mariacelestehey6025]

I'm watching in 2024. Thank you for posting this! Loved Ian Thorpe the first time I saw him on tv make history at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

[@cr3916jkd2]

At school, in 10th grade, after summer, people talk about the what they did at summer. Thorpe can say:"I became the champion of the World."

[@aculturedspecimen]

“ I saw thorpie on the last length and I was like *oh my god he’s coming* “ -Grant Hackett (1998)

[@kingofthenerds7925]

greatmemes92 Is that what he actually said? 😂

[@steezeoverlord]

@@kingofthenerds7925 8:42

[@Fuzcapp]

Just so you know - Hackett swam the last lap in about 28.5 ... And Thorpe gave him 2 seconds start!

[@Fuzcapp]

FMD - i got tingles watching this. Just watching all these legends in the making, especially Thorpe. What a finish by Thorpe. He gave Hackett a 3 second lead at the 300. 2 second lead at the last turn. What a finish! He was too young to know he was supposed to be number 2, to Hackett! And how many times did Thorpe put on a finish like that over the following years. Hackett, Rossolino, Loader, Hoffman, Brinbilla. So many legends of the sport and Thorpie comes of age in international swimming. Amazing. Stuff it - I'm gunna watch it again!!! :-)

[@Robert-mn8gc]

Thorpe was just Sensational 😅

[@rottentwapple]

love Thorpe. He looks so happy!

[@kayplayforth9007]

An amazing athlete.......the best swimmer of the century...just love to watch him swim....

[@Fuzcapp]

Best male swimmer maybe. Dawn Fraser and Shane Gould come to mind for the women. Mark Spitz would also feature in calculations for the men (I assume we're talking 20th century here).

[@maxchbaro1464]

Michael Phelps exists

[@serenityflies1462]

Michael who?????

[@jpdprophotography6693]

​@maxchbaro1464 not before the year 2000 in the swimming world he didn't.

[@dazaussie]

It’s almost impossible to believe Ian Thorpe here was just 15 years old 🎉

[@cargalpi]

The commentator "somebody wake him up, he's got to swim the final" If he only knew the legend that "bloke" was about to write...

[@chineseporcupine]

phenomenal race...

[@zapps1000-tq2rn]

The video caption is a whole minute wrong

[@MightyRoos]

What an introduction to the world swimming stage

[@kayplayforth9007]

I agree with some of the comments Ian Thorpe is a victim of the media and their rubbish...leave people alone....print positive feedback ...not your muck raking Rubbish...Get well Ian we love you & what you have given to Australia & it's people, just amazing....get on with your life knowing you are respected & admired by many...Don't suffer from the Tall Poppy Syndrome. ?..

[@Thegreenandwhitearmy]

Immensely proud to be related to him.

[@Ghostsv690]

awesome Ian , go ahead at olimpic games in 2012 at london AND DON'T GIVE UP . I'm very sure that you'll win at London 3 or 4 GOLD MEDALS :). All my respect Iordan Adonis from Romania !.

[@griffishep1]

It's so odd seeing him without the full body Adidas

[@joevypaulsen2819]

Unbelievable to see this. What a fantastic swim

[@lifekmjj1]

Seriously what is with these people going on about him Thorpe being gay??? So what?? Being gay doesn't mean he isn't a brilliant world class swimmer, perhaps the greatest ever. Grow up, people. So he didn't come out until recently and repeatedly insisted he is straight. Maybe he was scared of exactly what is happening now, people commenting about him being gay before his great talent and achievements.

[@daveswagger4018]

I think people who mock him arw jealous for two reasons: he's a legend and a graceful mermaid.

[@cameronglover7261]

Dustin Gabe swimmers Peak earlier than most other sports, and I can’t tell you a 15 year old doping. That is a ridiculous claim.

[@XDF745]

Times have changed. Back in the 90s and early 00s being gay was still a big thing (personal experience).

[@dfisdjnjcsjsjn]

He would've probably been better if the media didn't fuck him up mentally. No matter what he says (he claims it didn't affect him, it just simply annoyed him in the end) it'd affect you being legitimately asked if you were gay non stop from 14 by media reporters and the general public. They're absolute wankers.

[@joshrees1985]

I used to swim in the same water as Thorpe I would be in Lane 1 he would be in Lane 5 training I was so fit trying to match it with him

[@joshrees1985]

I credit him with getting my swimming classification and almost making the Paralympics

[@johnylopez]

Increíble with 15 years the last 50 m

[@donna25871]

I don't think Hackett recovered mentally from this race against Thorpe. Would you, having someone come from that far behind at 300m ?

[@XavierCoates1]

I mean I think he did he was undefeated in the 1500 for over a decade and one of the best swimmers of alltime

[@durangopsi]

wow un menino haciendo historia, nace una estrella

[@bournejason66]

It's 3'46!

[@dmnojus]

gr8 race!

[@mc1703]

I like how they talk about hacket doing a 1:48 as fast. Who would have thought that 10 years later people would be swimming 1:42 !!!

[@mschauer97]

In the middle of the race I thought the guy, who titled this video, must have meant Grant Hackett instead of Ian Thorpe.. no way Ian Thorpe can close this gap.. unbelievable comeback.

[@Fuzcapp]

Commentary: "Grant's gotta watch himself. Thorpe is motoring. It doesn't matter though - it's one-two Australia!" Ummmm - I think it mattered to Hackett ...

[@erlanfranck]

Amazing!

[@BaoNguyen00]

oh god young Thorpe is so awesome he change to win in last 100 :D

[@sangpark7049]

레전드 이안소프

[@freedomfrankie6770]

7:50 and that's, when the world knew...

[@donna25871]

FreedomFrankie that you’re an idiot?

[@Fuzcapp]

@@donna25871 Exactly Donna. FreedomFrankie - get ya hand off it, mate!

[@splitkostanjeuma]

@benskutnik i think he has the best freestyle technique in history his head position is perfect just look at the underwater shots of the 800 free at the 2001 australian champs u have it on this channel

[@Fuzcapp]

Thorpe's stroking rating (strokes per minute) is ridiculously slow, even when he is sprinting. He must be doing some mega-serious work under the water. Compare Thorpe's stroke rate to Gary Hall Jnr in the last leg of the Sydney 2000 4 x 100m relay (also - just watch it for the sheer joy of seeing the result). ... kzbin.info/www/bejne/moK0pWObidChrrs

[@Fuzcapp]

Love the commentary: "Thorpe negative split his semi final this morning." F****************K! Who negative splits their semi final??!

[@GX2re]

He could have been better than Phelps if he didn't retire

[@thebigseal1]

maybe in the 200 free, but Phelps could beat him in the other strokes

[@frazbro27]

No chance. Phelps is the GOAT

[@Fuzcapp]

hey - I'm a Thorpe fan (as you can see below) but that's a big call. Phelps is/was a total freak. 10 metres underwater on the last turn of a 400m Medley Olympic final. That's superhuman. Both their records speak for themselves. Different types of swimmers - Phelps preferred the slightly shorter events and was more versatile. Thorpe made the 400 his own when he was at his top. I mean really - how do you split legends like this?

[@nickbaker3588]

@@Fuzcapp Thorpe went 4:26 in the 400IM the year before this. He also finished 4th in the 200 Fly at the commonwealth games. But he never swam those events again. He focused on freestyle because it was his breakthrough and also because they are the premier events. He could have had an incredible rivalry with Phelps and was probably the only person capable of beating him in the 200 Fly and IMs. But after he left Doug Frost he just went downhill. IMO he turned into a proper snob and never got anywhere near his potential. Maybe because he was so young as a rockstar athlete, maybe because he was hiding being gay. But he seemed to just become focused with money and media events.

[@nickbaker3588]

​@@rolandgreen7484 Yes his breaststroke and backstroke in 2003 were awful. That was a disappointing performance IMO as I thought he would go under old WR which would have put him within a second of Phelps. He only just scraped through the heats and semis. FWIW in 2002 Doug Frost said at a media event that Thorpe could win 9 gold medals at one meet. One of those events would have been the 200 Fly and an IM. Phelps went 1:54 in 2001 so Frost must have felt he would have a chance of going faster. But he left Frost after this and it was clear he lost interest. If you read Thorpe's book (not a good read) he claims that Frost had told his parents before the Commonwealth games that he wasn't training properly and was in danger of losing the 400 Free to Hackett. If he had the same motivation as he had in 2001 he for sure could have gone under 4:10 in 400IM, 1:55 in 200 Fly, and 1:57 in 200IM. And who knows what he could have swam in a supersuit in 2008. He would have definitely had a great rivalry with Phelps in these events plus the 200 Free.

[@damochandler20]

hacket dominated the 400 and 1500 for a year and a half up to this race. didn't beat thorpe after this race

[@marcus1979oz]

This became Thorpe baby, where he continuously lowered the world record and funnily enough his 2002 Manchester commonwealth games mark is second fastest in history

[@dfisdjnjcsjsjn]

He's definately well over 6ft here. Hackett is 6ft5 here and he's not far off that. I'd guees 6ft3, Thorpe is 6ft5 full grown now. They didn't stand up straight next to each other so couldn't be exact.

[@stefanostsitsipas5201]

*Grant Hack It*

[@georgefirth3376]

do you mean 3.46..

[@adamlewis934]

does anyone know how tall thorpe was at this time? i know he got well over 6 ft by the time he was 19 but i'd like to know how tall he was in his first world championship win

[@doriankeating1963]

I believe he was touching 6'1 at 15 and I think he reached 6'5 when he retired.

[@Thorntreed41]

@jarto10 that was his full potential..

[@mc1703]

except thorpe was two years younger, and went on to break world records the following year in swimming briefs. tae hwan didn't break any world records in 2008 and was wearing a performance enhancing suit

[@donna25871]

I will occasionally go for a swim at HBF Stadium and swim in Lane 5.

[@TQfflus]

Well when your 17 years old thats fast and it was a 200m split in a 400m so you cant compare it.

[@Gighen93]

After I saw this video I think that nothing is impossible

[@JakoBanaN]

@yotanbamix didnt get that?

[@Ejexion]

@hoever06 : That's called 'negative splitting' a race.

[@deanmilwainoly3966]

This is how I swam the 400. My best I went out in 1.54.40 and back in 1.54.0. Negative splitting is the best way to race a 400 imo

[@Ejexion]

How could you have put the wrong time in the title of the video?

[@ShunyamNiketana]

Yet when Ye Shiwen made a similar comeback in London, all cried 'doper.'

[@MickChickenn]

IF you would watch the video, you would see that they did 3:46, well under your time.

[@Chalkhous]

lol its 3:46 not 4:46

[@markkleinhans5342]

3:46*

[@725yankin]

i swim 4:16 now in age 14 ....did i get number 1 ?

[@Daniel-lx1jd]

Yankin ng it's 3:46

[@JaDanBar97]

When I was 15 I was doing 4:35... how the heck do you go 3:46 at 15 😱

[@joeekaps5840]

Thorpe retired way too early! He would have smashed Phelps legacy had he continued 😀

[@mirospajic9929]

He also start very early, just 15 here! Still the best free style swimmer ever in midle distance!

[@maxmj2706]

You're a minute off buddy , at 4.46 i would have beaten the beast myself !

[@georgefirth3376]

how old is grant hackett here?

[@jenniferbleuse3625]

17

[@alexlin9991]

6:58 reminds me of a seal

[@Gerhard2770]

Commentator should be fired😂🤣

[@rbdmn677]

you cant even type correct time on video title

[@Steve-gm2jl]

Title and description both state a time of 4.46.29? Well done australianswimming. Not that important I guess.

[@pocepaneamareco]

pow o Thorpe era mulequinho.Ganho pq a chegada do Hackett foi escrota(calculo mal a distancia q faltava pra borda).Mas msn Thorpe foi e sempre vai se o melhor nos 400m.biedermann é um muleque sem aquela ropa nao é nd.

[@tododjurovic1992]

4.46.29? wtf???? it's 3.46.29

[@ezza1236]

Was Harry Potter chambers of secretes better than prisoner of Asakaban

[@matteogege92]

6:17

[@Fuzcapp]

Compare: Thorpe at 15 y.o (here) and Phelps at 15 y.o: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2Svn2VvqpiWbaM

[@Steve-gm2jl]

solid commentary? no one will get near Hackett. ha ha

[@mc1703]

I'm sorry but you're wrong on both counts. They didn't say that's fast for a 17 year old. They were implying it was good as a stand-alone statement. The 1:48 was from the relay as the commentator said. Last time I checked there isn't a 4x400m relay on the LC program. Jog-on

[@nategdoes9963]

mc1703 from the 4x200 free

[@christianlong1217]

lol at the flutter kicks off the wall

[@jerrycannon3068]

so what he's gay. gay dude whoops everything out there

[@yotanbamix]

Thorpe swims faster than Biederman at 15 with nothing, just a short lol

[@dfisdjnjcsjsjn]

he's 17.

[@donna25871]

dfisdjnjcsjsjn No Thorpe was 15 - Hackett was 17.

[@simonbailey2151]

Anyone else think Phelps looks a bit like Zlatan Ibrahimovic here?

[@100613s]

Me too!

[@anfibisimo]

***** he's thorpe not phelps. But yeah, I thought it too

[@kahinaredouane5086]

You mean Thorpe Yes he is 😊