Ian Thorpe, five-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming, has announced that he will be joining the supermaxi LawConnect crew to chase a third successive victory in the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Thorpe, 43 years old, will debut in the Cabbage tree Island race on Friday. This is the last major offshore event before the 80th Sydney-Hobart which starts on 26 December and covers 1,170 kilometers (630 nautical miles).

Thorpe said, "I have spent my entire life around water. This is a completely new test for me, both mentally as well as physically." He won three golds in Sydney in 2000 and two more at Athens four year later.

"Joining LawConnect is an opportunity for me to learn, push myself and be a part of an amazing Australian sporting tradition."

LawConnect, a 100-foot ultra-fast supermaxi competing for the top spot, is looking to defend its title, after winning last year's race which was marred with the death of two sailors. (Reporting and editing by Peter Rutherford in Bengaluru, with Suramya kaushik from Bengaluru)

(source: Reuters)