Ian Thorpe, who was recently in rehab due to drug abuse, was found around 3 a.m. on Monday near his parent’s home in Sydney, Australia.
10 News Sydney reported that “a dazed Ian Thorpe detained by police near his parent’s home.”
9 News Australia added that Thorpe was taken to a hospital after being found “disoriented” in the early hours of the morning.
Thorpe’s manager told 10 News that Thorpe has been admitted back into rehab for depression.
Thorpe, a star swimmer, was living in Switzerland for a year and a half but returned to Sydney to spend the holidays with his family, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. He checked himself into rehab last week while battling depression and alcohol abuse, but checked out a couple days later.
Thorpe was planning to leave Australia, the Daily Telegraph reported over the weekend, because of the public scrutiny over his health, his mother said. “That’s why he loves living in Switzerland--he’s left alone,” Margaret Thorpe said.
Before he entered rehab, Thorpe was reportedly injured after a fall and admitted to a hospital, which appears to have led to him checking himself into rehab. Thorpe also reportedly underwent surgery on his shoulder for a minor injury from the fall, but his team denies the claim.
Thorpe is an Australian swimmer who has won five Olympic gold medals, the most by any Australian. Alongside Michael Phelps he is considered one of the best swimmers in recent years.
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