 Ian Thorpe's dad, Ken, was an outstanding cricketer who, as a 16-year-old, played in a side with Jeff Thomson and Len Pascoe. In fact, he beat both of them into the Bankstown first-grade side in Sydney. In one match, he made 66 against a side including then Test fast bowler Grahame Corling.

 Ken Thorpe quit first-grade cricket aged 18, apparently tired of the pressure of expectation. At 26 he made a successful comeback to first grade and made five consecutive 50s.

 Ian Thorpe weighed 4.1kg at birth and was very long - 57.5cm. Now stands 6'5", or 196cm. He was 12 when he hit 6'. Then there are the feet - Thorpey, famously, has size-17 feet.