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A 17 year old Australian is destined to be the swimming sensation of the Olympic Games. Ian Thorpe, nicknamed Thorpedo has in his teens already won ten world records. And in May this year, at the Australian Swimming Trials had broken as three world records in as many days.

Thorpedo, who is powered by his size 17 feet is said to be hopeful of winning six Gold Olympic Medals in his home city of Sydney. His feet act as huge flippers which are perfect for his chosen sport, however, he prefers to downplay his feet stating that the attention might devalue his effort.

He burst onto the international scene as the youngest swimmer ever to represent Australia at the age of 14 and has won medal after medal as well as break numerous world records. Barely 3 years later, 6ft 5in tall and 14 st (approximately 90 kg) he is readying himself for his first of possibly numerous Olympic Games.

Thorpe is part of a growing trend of a sporting society grooming teenage sporting heroes. Here is a brief summary of a group of athletes who have brought international status to their respective sports.