Ian Thorpe started winning swimming awards, like the Young Australian of the Year award in his rookie years. He competed in individual medley and backstroke but was more famous in freestyle. He has a collection of seven gold medals and two silver medals. Ian is a four-time Swimming World Swimmer of the Year and a five-time Australian Swimmer of the Year. He was nicknamed "Therpedo" and was a dominant figure in world 400m freestyle in the Commonwealth, Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, and Olympics. Other accolades and honors under his belt include handprints at the Sydney Aquatic Center, a fitness center named after him, and human rights medal awards.