Olympic Hero Ian Thorpe Dodged Death On 9/11, Narrowly Escaped World Trade Center

The world was forever changed on September 11, 2001, when two planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York. Among the many lives that were affected, one of swimming¡¯s greatest legends, Ian Thorpe, narrowly escaped being a victim of the attacks.

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Ian Thorpe could have been killed in 9/11

If not for a fortunate twist of fate on the day of the 9/11 attacks, Ian Thorpe, a five-time Olympic champion, may not have been alive now to tell the tale. Thorpe, 38, was in New York City then and planned to visit the World Trade Center¡¯s observation deck on the day the fateful events unfolded.

If you know anything remotely about the attack on the World Trade Center, you would know nobody managed to escape from the floors above the impact zone in the Tower. The buildings were on fire, trapping people on the upper floors and wreathing the city in smoke. Both 110-storey towers collapsed in massive dust clouds in less than two hours.

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A twist of fate kept him away from the World Trade Center

But fate intervened when he realised he had forgotten his camera and returned to his hotel room to retrieve it. During this time, the attacks occurred, making it a close call for Thorpe.

Recalling the incident, Thorpe said, ¡°I went down there on the morning of 9/11. It was early in the morning, and I went for a run. I grabbed a coffee and walked back to my hotel room, and literally, in that period of time, the planes hit. It was a very, very close call.¡±

Notably, Thorpe had a friend named Michelle who was staying with him then. He had intended for both of them to visit the World Trade Center together. However, it was Thorpe who ended up going alone. Reflecting on the incident, he acknowledged that some things are meant to be and that he considers himself incredibly lucky.

At the time of the attacks, Thorpe was only 18 years old and was in New York City to pursue his interests in the fashion industry. He had recently achieved tremendous success in swimming, including winning six gold medals and setting four world records at the 2001 World Championships in Fukuoka. These records included the men¡¯s 200 free, 400 free, 800 free, and Australia¡¯s 800 free relay.

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After narrowly escaping the 9/11 attacks, Thorpe continued to excel in swimming. One of his most notable achievements was at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, where he triumphed in the ¡°Race of the Century¡± in the men¡¯s 200 free, defeating defending champion Pieter van den Hoogenband and the legendary Michael Phelps.

He also successfully defended his title in the 400 free., but has never forgotten how close he came to becoming a victim of the 9/11 tragedy, which killed 2,977 people and injured 6,000 more.

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