Men's World Swimmer of the Year

Top 3 Finishers
Ian Thorpe, AUS
Lenny Krayzelburg, USA
Pieter van den Hoogenband, NED

Men's Pacific Rim Swimmer of the Year
Ian Thorpe, AUS
Grant Hackett, AUS
Michael Klim, AUS

In basketball, they say "it's the shoes." For swimmer Ian Thorpe, "it must be the feet." For the second straight year, Australia's human "Thorpedo"—with his size-16 feet—was named Swimming World's male World Swimmer of the Year (as well as Pacific rim). Last year's accomplishments were impressive for the World Championship double gold medalist, but compared to this year, that was child's play. In 1999, Ian—all of 16 years old—broke five world records, won three gold medals at the Pan Pacific Championships and was named its male swimmer of the meet. Thorpe twice broke the world mark in the 200 meter free, first with a 1:46.34 during semifinals of Pan Pacs, followed by a 1:46.00 in finals. He lowered the 400 standard to 3:41.83, bettering Kieren Perkins' five-year-old record—generally considered the toughest record in the books—by a full two seconds. At the same meet, Ian was part of the world record-setting 800 meter freestyle relay (7:08.79). And earlier in the year, he bettered Giorgio Lamberti's nine-year-old world record in the short course meters 200 free to 1:43.28. All this before he earned his driver's license in November after turning 17. Said his coach, Doug Frost, "Getting his license—and on the first try—is like winning an Olympic gold medal to Ian." Thorpe will have a chance to compare the two emotions come Sydney 2000.