Ian Thorpe predicts Australia’s dominance in the pool will soon come to an end. Australia’s swimming team currently boasts six world record holders and are again expected to bring home a majority of the country’s medals at the Beijing Olympics.

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But the five-time Olympic great today warned Australians to make the most of the Dolphins’ success before things turn awry.

“There is always pressure on our swim team,” he told reporters in Beijing.

“We historically bring home the most gold medals and I think it is expected of us, it is presumed that will happen.

“What we need is even more appreciation for how extraordinary our team is at the moment because this is our most successful era in swimming history in Australia.

“Unfortunately it will come to a close at some point.”

Thorpe said being in Beijing in a lead-up to an Olympics had not sparked any desires to return to professional swimming.

“I am still in the pool it is just the world doesn’t watch and I like that part of it,” he said.

“I am being asked that question so many times I am starting to think that I should … but I am happy being here as a spectator.”

The 25-year-old was in Beijing to make an address to a forum on “what makes a champion” held at Peking University.

Despite his celebrity status in Asia, Thorpe had nothing on action movie megastar Jackie Chan, who earned the audience’s biggest round of applause when he followed him onto the podium.

But Thorpe did manage to get a wave from Chan during his speech, in which he called the swim star his friend.

Commenting on his many swimming successes, Thorpe said there were two parts to being a champion.

“That is a title that is given to us by others,” he told the audience.

“The other part of a champion is something a little different, a little bit more important and it represents humanity.

“It’s our desire in small numbers to actually progress as humans to do things in a different way to others and to be able to set a new benchmark that we can set for future generations.

“The more important thing is not what the champion does today but how they inspire the champions of the future.

“And it is those future champions that I’m inspired to encourage and that is why we do what we do.”

Thorpe said he will stay in Beijing for the majority of the Games to support Australia’s swim team.

© AAP 2012

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