Thorpe's manager rejects 'fears' of swimmer losing 'infected' arm post surgeries

The manager of Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe has dismissed fears that the swimmer could lose his arm after contracting a serious infection in his shoulder following a series of surgeries.

The five-time Olympic champion, who was admitted to rehabilitation for depression earlier this year, had taken anti-depressants and medication for a shoulder injury sustained in a fall at home, following which he had the surgeries.

According to the BBC, manager James Erskine said that although Thorpe is not well, he is not in intensive care, adding that no one has ever suggested he will lose the use of his left arm.

Erskine further said that the swimmer is on antibiotics but in relatively good spirits, adding that he had a major surgery on a broken shoulder, which was not successful and so they had to operate again.

Erskine also said that Thorpe developed the infection during the second operation on top of his treatment for depression, adding that the infection flared up while he was in hospital.

Thorpe made his Olympic Games debut in Sydney in 2000 but retired in 2006 because of a lack of motivation and although he made a comeback in 2011, he failed to make the Australian team for the London 2012 Olympics, the report added.