If Thorpe signs on to fight he will be put through 10 weeks of “torture sessions” including sandhill runs, boxing and sparring sessions, long-distance runs, sprints, weights and other drills.

Thorpe has stayed out of the limelight since retiring from competitive swimming, except when he becomes part of another rumor that he is gay and then denies it. Maybe he thinks getting in shape for a three-round fight would be a nice diversion, but former Aussie boxer Troy Walters urged the swimmer to look before he leaped.

“He has been a world class athlete and a great champion, who I respect enormously,” said Waters. “But I will say the killer instinct he displayed in the swimming pool is far different to the killer instinct in the boxing ring.”

Hat tip to reader Noel for sending the item.

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Sydney Confidential can reveal that Mendes has been living with Thorpe for the past three years as his housemate. According to Thorpe’s manager David Flaskas, the men were introduced through Thorpe’s former coach Tracey Menzies while Thorpe was training for the 2008 Olympics. They became training buddies before their friendship developed.

The photos of the men were taken at the end of a month-long vacation in Brazil. The pair flew over in late December to celebrate Christmas with the Mendes family after first celebrating with Thorpe’s family in Australia.

It was also disclosed that “that Mendes had accompanied Thorpe to two events in the past 18 months – the 2007 Australia’s Next Top Model finale and the 2008 MTV Awards.” Yep, those are two places one takes a “mate.” Any single woman would give her eye-teeth to get an invite to such events from a guy like Thorpe.

The Defamer, Australian version, had a great snarky summation of what we know:

So in conclusion, I can’t really understand why people are making such a big deal about Ian Thorpe being VERY GOOD FRIENDS with Daniel the Hot Brazilian Swimmer. Maybe the Daily Telegraph is trying to send a message to the youth of today that social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace are no substitute for real mateship which sees pals going on holidays together/spending time with each other’s families/sometimes sharing a bed when it gets really cold and there’s not enough blankets in the house? That must be it. In which case, I hope we all find a Daniel the Hot Brazilian Swimmer one day.

I don’t care whether Thorpe ever comes out or really is straight, but his denials and awkward language (he called his love “they” last year, then used “she” in another interview) strain logic. He has retired, has made a great living from his championship swim career, so why is he being coy? If he and Mendes are a couple, just say it already. Diver and fellow Aussie Matthew Mitcham never backed down from discussing his partner, Lachlan Fletcher, and Mitcham is still an active Olympian. Based on these photos, Thorpe is a long way from being in shape to compete again.

Update: Ian Thorpe reiterated again he is not gay.

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Winning gold in Beijing was an amazing experience for me. I’ve been overwhelmed with the public’s response to my achievement and am looking forward to the road ahead,” Matthew said. “Grand Slam International represents many of Australia’s leading sports stars, helping them successfully manage their careers both in and out of the athletic arena. I look forward to working with GSI on some exciting initiatives.

Among the other athletes represented by GSI is Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe. With them representing him, I don’t see how Mitcham will be without a lucrative deal in the very near future; stay tuned.

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