Olympic legend Ian Thorpe says he regrets quitting his swimming career

Ian Thorpe retired from competitive swimming in 2006 at the age of 24 after breaking 22 world records and winning an abundance of medals.

But on Saturday, the five-time Olympic champion admitted he regrets quitting at such a young age, but he wasn’t able to deal with the enormous amount of pressure. 

‘We had a team psychologist but people felt that if we saw him, then we had an issue,’ the 37-year-old told The Daily Telegraph. 

‘When I saw him, he asked why I was doubting my ability and then gave me a pep talk. From there it was up to me.’

Ian went on to say that he believes he could competed in ‘another two Olympics’ at the time, if he didn’t have ‘pressures.’ 

The Olympic star battled crippling depression in his teens and he previously said it had led him to drink during the night in the lead-up to the 2004 Athens Olympics. 

After breaking 22 world records and winning an abundance of medals, he retired at the age of 24 – going from swimming and training ’30-40 hours a week’ to then trying to fill the void and find something he was equally as passionate about.

Earlier this year, Ian spoke to Daily Mail Australia about his battle with mental health.

The Olympic legend gushed that he’s very much ‘happy in his own skin’ after seeking help multiple times throughout his life. 

‘For a number of years, I thought doctors were lying to me when they said it is something that is manageable,’ he said. 

‘I only ever aspired to be content in what I was doing, and then there was a point where I realised – you know what, I’m actually happy.’

‘I can still experience the emotions and the elation that I’m so happy in my own skin.’