He changed swimming FOREVER in less than 4 minutes!

What Ian Thorpe did in 2000s changed the swimming coaches' style of training, competing and technique forever. Before him, most swimmers focused on taking as many strokes as possible.

After the Thorpe era, we trained and swam very differently.

00:00 - Everyone was swimming badly
00:14 - The first record
00:51 - New record
01:08 - Sydney 2000
02:53 - Race of the century
04:27 - Swimming tip

Ian Thorpe wins Men's 400m freestyle final | Sydney 2000

Phelps vs Thorpe vs van den Hoogenband - Men's Freestyle 200m at Athens 2004 |

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Thanks for watching!
Swim fast!

[SkillsNT]

If you liked this video, you will LOVE this other one. It is Everything You Need To Know To Swim Better:

[Alan_Hans__]

That comparison in the number of strokes is absolutely mind blowing.

[matthewhancock]

Also worth noting perhaps that Ian Thorpe was a 17-year old boy at the Sydney Olympics, making his achievements all the more extraordinary.

[kkoz]

Ian Thorpe was the most effortless swimmer I've ever seen. He didn't waste a single movement, it looked like the water was pushing him and he was just there.

[aussiemma]

I remember the first time I saw Thorpe. I was 11 and he was 14 and I had just started swimming for a new club in Padstow, Sydney. All of us were cramped into a couple of lanes and Thorpe had his own lane to himself- even at 14 he was already 6”3 with a massive chest and feet- just by watching him practise I could tell he was special

[streips]

An interesting fact about Ian Thorpe is that he was in New York on 9/11 and on his way to the World Trade Center when he realized that he had forgotten his camera at the hotel and so turned back. That almost certainly saved his life.

[shanematerazzo]

As a swim coach of 35 years, I couldn’t agree more with this.
Sadly, too many of my colleagues fail to understand the importance of glides and stroke counts in Freestyle😩😥

[matwatson]

When I used to train we were always advised to study Thorpes technique. It was the underwater phase that I took most from. Not because it was particularly different or controversial but because it highlighted how much difference an excellent turn can make. He gained so much ground from them.

Phelps won more but Thorpe and Hooganband were my inspirations

[inordirections]

The difference in stroke count between Thorpe and the second place swimmer is absolutely striking.

[rothotborski]

There were always "Gliders" and "Paddle steamers" in swimming and still there are...Thorpe was just the best at doing it and for me still is the most aestethic swimmer of all times...but he didn't invent something new, everything he did was well-known, Thorpe just mastered perfection...

[bellabana]

To this day Ian Thorpe still has the most beautiful swimming style of any swimmer ever, just effortless and smooth.

[samcash]

Thorpe was just brilliant and deserved all his successes.

[Wasteo]

Amazing to see the sport evolve. 20 years later and even Thorpe's streamline looks amateur. Then Phelps made the dolphin kick a game changer. Then... I don't know, they all just seem superhuman now :D

[nicklausss]

Pretty sure his shoe size of 17 (52 in EU) helped his kick. One of the largest feet swimming world has ever seen. He also had very strong legs and flipper-like feet added to his performance.
Overall, strongest kick of all time in the game.

[jmshanta]

No one ever did it for me like Thorpedo...never does and never will....he is not only a maestro but also an artist....still miss you Thorpie!

[slayrisk]

0:47 Of course he broke the world record. That was actually Zlatan in disguise.

[mssuziquzi]

Ian was only 15 when he first broke the 400m world record. What a champion, always gracious and so well spoken.❤

[andrewsheehy]

Ian Thorpe has such a huge natural talent and a beautiful stroke. A joy to watch him in the water. Reeeach and it!

[fritsgerms]

he could afford to glide longer because of his insane kick. his kicking training sessions were legendary for their speed.

[boblangford]

His efficiency was top notch. He was similar to Popov, the way their bodies would just glide through the water. Everyone else always looked like they were doing so much more work than those guys, yet they continued to beat everyone.