Ecuador’s Anicka Delgado won heat three of the women’s 50m butterfly event at the World Shortcourse Championships earlier this week – but it was the swimmer in lane two who caught the attention of the more eagle-eyed Australian viewers.
When the race was over, perhaps the most famous name in Australian swimming history flashed up on the big screen: I. Thorpe.
But this was not Ian Thorpe, who was in the commentary box at the time for host broadcaster Channel Nine, it was another Thorpey: Kenya’s Imara-Bella. Or as Giaan Rooney joked on the broadcast: “It’s Thorpey’s sister from another mister.”
There was a perplexed look on the face of the 21-year-old when she was told that a reporter would like to have a quick word with her after her fifth-placed heat finish.
Imara-Bella Thorpe meets Ian Thorpe at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre during the World Shortcourse Championships.Credit:Wade Brennan
Then it dawned on Imara-Bella, who lives and studies in Melbourne, that it might be something to do with her surname, one that is synonymous with Australian Olympic success.
“People have asked me if I’m related. I’m not,” Imara-Bella said. “I grew up in Kenya and moved there when I was four. I was at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and some people were asking.”
Imara-Bella, who has a British accent, is swimming for the Suspended Member Federation at these World Championships.
Kenya has been banned indefinitely by FINA, now known as World Aquatics, after failing to meet deadlines for elections two years ago.
Imara-Bella was part of Kenya’s history-making 4x100m mixed relay team at the Commonwealth Games, the first time the African nation had qualified for a final.
Heat three of the women’s 50m butterfly had a familiar surname in lane two. Credit:Channel Nine
There are other links to Australia, other than the surname. Her father, Conrad Thorpe, was captain of the Kenyan swim team as an 18-year-old at the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games.
Imara-Bella now lives in Melbourne, training under the guidance of two-time Olympian and world champion Kenrick Monk, who is the head coach of Melbourne Sports Centres, where the World Shortcourse Championships are taking place.
“One of the reasons why I chose Australia was for the swimming,” she says. “The culture is amazing. I feel like I’m reaping the benefits because I already have made a personal best in my 50. I’m hoping I will do the same in my 100 butterfly on Saturday.”
Moments after a live cross, the Herald and The Age introduced Thorpe to Thorpe. The pair chatted for about five minutes about their family heritage and a number of other topics.
“It was cool,” Imara-Bella said. “I never thought I’d meet him. It’s a bit of a surprise.
“He seems like a really nice guy and chilled. He gave me the time of day, which was nice, and he wanted to find out more about me.”
The older of the Thorpes joked that getting a table at a restaurant in Melbourne might be a little easier with I. Thorpe on the booking.
“I definitely need to get on that,” said Imara-Bella.
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
