Ian Thorpe

“For myself, losing is not coming second. It's getting out of the water knowing you could have done better.”

“I think it's better to be a good person than a good swimmer.”

“I can't control what everyone else is doing or achieving. I can only control what I do.”

“To be a champion, I think you have to see the big picture. It's not about winning and losing; it's about every day hard work and about thriving on a challenge.”

“The thing about depression is that a person can survive almost anything, as long as they see the end in sight. But depression is so insidious, and it compounds daily, that it's impossible to ever see the end.”

“I'm not a big fan of the post-race interviews. I'm not a big fan of the podiums.”

“I am the same person I was before receiving the Order of Australia. I'm just a little bit more proud.”

“Swimming is a sport that is so precise. It's a sport that is so mental.”

“I enjoy the competition and the process of learning as we compete. The lessons learned are what keep me coming back for more.”

“I've had to learn how to be a good loser, which I'm not very good at.”