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Australian swimming superstar Ian Thorpe announced his retirement at a press conference in Sydney this lunchtime.
"As of 2:53 on Sunday afternoon I decided that I would not be swimming the world championships (next year)," the five-time Olympic gold medal winner said.
"I also made another very difficult decision - I decided that I was actually going to discontinue my professional swimming career."
Asked about a possible return to the pool he said: "I won't rule it out, I never rule anything out, but it's just not going to happen."
The 24-year old has not competed internationally since the 2004 Athens Olympics.
He was scheduled to return to competition at this year's Commonwealth Games but dramatically announced that he was pulling out after being struck down with glandular fever.
He then went to Los Angeles for a lengthy training stay but was unable to return to full fitness because of the lingering effects of the glandular fever and returned to Australia last month.
Thorpe was Australia's most successful Olympian, winning nine Olympic medals including five golds. He retired as the 200 metres and 400m freestyle world record holder.
- RADIO AUSTRALIA
