Tracey Menzies (L), coach of Australia's world and Olympic swimming champion swimmer Ian Thorpe, listens along with other supporters as Thorpe announces his retirement during a media conference in Sydney November 21, 2006. Thorpe told a packed news conference broadcast live on Australian television that he had decided to quit because swimming was no longer the most important thing in his life. [Reuters]

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9