Ian Thorpe has written a new tell-all biography. Picture: Rohan Kelly. Source: The Sunday Telegraph
SWIMMER Ian Thorpe battled alcohol and depression as he tried to cling on to his career after the Athens Olympics.
The revelations are understood to be in his new tell-all autobiography, written in conjunction with author Robert Wainwright and to be released through publishers Simon & Schuster on October 1.
In extracts already shopped to magazines, the swim legend explains how he battled depression and alcohol while training in the US. It is understood they were also offered stories to be covered in the memoir about his financial woes and sexuality.
The Olympic gold medallist's former mentor and swimming legend Shane Gould, whose husband Milt Nelms coached Thorpe, said she first picked up on the tell-tale signs of Thorpe's depression when he returned from the US in 2006.
"He was quite uncertain and emotional, which can be a sign of depression. I said to Milt, 'I think he needs some professional help'," she said.Gould said she was aware of his problems with alcohol.
"The trouble with alcohol is it's a depressant and it can be the cause (of depression)," Gould said.
"But I don't think I can speak about that. It's up to (Thorpe) to talk about what happened. That's Ian's business. I did know that he was struggling but how he manifested that isn't for me to say."
Asked whether Thorpe's memoir would reveal issues of alcohol and depression, the swimmer's new manager, James Erskine, said he was yet to read the manuscript.
"I'm not sure if it is in the book," Mr Erskine said.
"I only managed Ian for a few months but if it is in the book, you will read it when the f ... king book comes out. It is not your divine right to know what is in the book."
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