Ian Thorpe stands proudly and firmly at the top of the swimming world at the tender age of just 17.

His considerable feat has been accomplished with the help of his considerable feet. Size 17 to be exact.

``I'm over the feet thing,'' Thorpe insists. ``I just wish everybody else was.''

But those gigantic flippers have already propelled Thorpe to Commonwealth Games gold, four world records, and a place in the Australian public's heart.

They have earned him the nickname `Thorpedo' and won him the Young Australian of the Year award in 1999.

Thorpe was born to hit the heights. He was more than 22 inches long at birth and at age 11 had reached 5ft 6ins.

Aged 14, Thorpe qualified for the Pan-Pacific Championships and won a silver medal in the 400metres freestyle.

A year later he topped 6ft and was wearing size 16 shoes. He became the youngest ever male world champion with victory in the 400metres at the World Championships in Perth.

At the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur that same year, Thorpe won four golds in the 200metres and 400metres freestyle, 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relays.

He set three Commonwealth records and in the 4x200m inspired the Australian team to a new world record.

Recently Thorpe has left his rivals in no doubt that he is the man to beat in Sydney.

In the first major meet held at the city's International Aquatic Centre, he won the 400m freestyle and shaved nearly two seconds off compatriot Kieren Perkins' world best.

He shattered another world record in the 200m by swimming 1:45.69, a record he has since lowered twice to 1:45.51.

He has also lowered his own 400m mark to 3:41.33.

He gives much of winnings to cancer charities and has transcended his relatively low-key sport to become one of the country's most loved sportsmen.

Australian coach Don Talbot said: ``He could be the greatest swimmer we've ever had, and maybe the greatest the world has ever seen.''