'For some it's life and death': Ian Thorpe turns business coach

Ian Thorpe admits the transition from professional athlete to a post-sport career is tough.

But the Olympic champion says this time around it's been easier thanks to new interests, including launching his own small business, Beon.

"For me this time was far easier," he told Fairfax Media. "I have done it twice now and I struggled the first time. The second time I knew what I needed to do."

Thorpe won gold medals at the Olympics in 2000 and 2004 before retiring in 2006. He made a comeback, attempting to qualify for the 2012 Olympics, but was unsuccessful.

Thorpe later revealed he struggled with depression trying to carve out a post-swimming career.

"You have to consider it as significant change in your life and accept that it takes time," he says of retiring from swimming. "There are ways to minimise the impact, detrain yourself to do less and less kilometres in the pool and realise that it is going to be more than one thing that you have to replace your sport with. To replace 30 to 40 hours a week of training in your life, there is a lot of time to fill in." Read more