Olympian Ian Thorpe returns home after rehab treatment for depression, alcohol abuse

Written By DNA Web Team | Updated: Jan 31, 2014, 11:59 AM IST

Ian Thorpe.

Australian Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe has returned home after being admitted to a hospital in Sydney to fight his decade-long battle with depression and alcohol abuse.

Thorpe is believed to have left hospital care for home early this morning, having been under medical supervision since Wednesday night.

The champion swimmer spent time at Bankstown Hospital and Strathfield Private Hospital in the latest chapter of his grave fight against illness.

Family members have revealed Thorpe was injured in a fall earlier this week before they sought medical help, and he was admitted to hospital on Wednesday night, Telegraph.com.au reports.

He sought the care of specialists and is facing a long, lonely battle to find a settled life after swimming and his failed comeback attempt for the London Olympics.

The hospital refused to confirm Thorpe had been admitted.