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Ian Thorpe`s much-publicised battle have prompted many to believe that success and depression often go hand in glove in swimming, but nine-time Olympic champion swimmer Mark Spitz feels the psychological disorder today is not just limited to his sport but rampant in other disciplines as well.
The multiple American Olympic champion was here as one of the academy members of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. Talking about Australia`s retired swimming star Thorpe, Spitz said he could understood the problems faced by the latter after having won a bagful of medals over the years.
“I can understand why he may have been depressed, he probably didn`t complete his career in the way he wanted it to. I think Ian (Thorpe) didn`t have a chance to gracefully retire and a lot of athletes don`t retire gracefully, they hang around for one too many years and then they start to not do as well,” Spitz said ahead of the 15th Laureus World Sports Awards here last night.
