Ian Thorpe - Winner of Five Olympic Swimming Gold Medals

Once in a while an athlete comes along whose feats capture the attention of the whole world. HARDtalk speaks to one of them - the extraordinary Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe. At the height of his powers in 2006, Thorpe called time on his swimming career. Sports fans were mystified. Australia was mortified. Now Thorpe has revealed that through the years of his Olympic triumphs and world records he was crippled by depression. He has lifted the lid on the mental torment that can coexist with sporting triumph.