You may recall the 27-year-old Thorpe–who just announced his retirement–as one of the only swimmers not named Michael Phelps to win a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. Mendes is also a swimmer, and as Australia’s Daily Telegraph reports, the two men have been living together as housemates for the last three years, and recently spent Christmas together with Mendes’ family in Brazil before traveling back to Australia to spend Christmas with Thorpe’s family.  

Thorpe, who splits his time between LA and Sydney, has been dogged by gay rumors for years and recently told the Aussie press that he was in love with a “she” who lives on the other side of the world. Oh, did we mention that he designs pearl necklaces, likes leather pants, and appeared on Australia’s Next Top Model?  As a London paper shows (via Queerty), he’s also put on a little bit of love weight.

Christian Taylor, Editor at gay Aussie site SameSame.au defends poor Thorpie:

If Thorpe is indeed in the closet, it’s not hard to see why, when you take a look at how hard it’s been for out and proud Aussie diver [and fellow watersportsman] Matthew Mitcham. He won gold at Beijing almost five months ago and he’s still yet to find a major sponsor.

You can check out some nice shots of a mostly naked Thorpe by clicking the thumbnails below, or you can see a gallery of a mostly clothed Thorpe doing various things like painting and eating here.

And here’s a tribute video from Australian news made on the occasion of Thorpe’s retirement a few weeks ago.

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Screencap Sexpot: Anderson Cooper and Michael Phelps Try Some Watersports
Cultural Math: Michael Phelps Meets Tory Burch
Celebrity Nipple: The New US Men’s Olympic Swim Team

Thorpe Gets a Brazilian (SameSame)
Meet Ian Thorpe’s swimmer friend, Daniel Mendes (Daily Telegraph)
Ian Thorpe Fan Site