Ian Thorpe
It might sound funny but Olympic swim champion Ian Thorpe is actually allergic to chlorine. Despite this, his talent shone through at the 2000 Sydney Olympics where he stood out. The Australian swimmer has won five gold medals and was even cited as Michael Phelps’ inspiration. He has since retired from swimming and has became an LGBT activist and is also a brand ambassador for Armani.
Ian Thorpe
Natalie Coughlin
Before making her mark on the Olympic stage, Natalie Coughlin was already an accomplished NCAA swimming champion. However, it was at the 2004 Athens Olympics where she truly shone, bringing home two gold medals for the United States. Coughlin’s achievements continued at the following Olympics in Beijing, where she became the first woman to swim the 100-meter backstroke in under a minute. Beyond her swimming career, Coughlin has also found success as a model and television personality, serving as a spokesperson for CO2 Coconut Water and making appearances on popular shows like Iron Chef America and Chopped, where she even competed as a contestant.
Natalie Coughlin
