Ian Thorpe has opened up about a little-known brush with one of the world’s biggest television shows, revealing he once appeared on Friends and was even offered the chance to take on a larger role.
The Olympian made the surprising admission while filming The Assembly, describing it as the “funniest” thing to happen to him.
Thorpe said the story began in 2000, when he was 17 and visiting New York City as a tourist. At the time, Friends was filming at NBC studios, and Thorpe decided to go along for a look. It was also the same year he won three Olympic gold medals and broke three world records at the Sydney Games.
“I was just going as a tourist,” Thorpie said on The Assembly. “And I was recognised in the crowd, and they asked me, ‘Do you want to be on an episode?’ So I was invited in.”
Thorpe ended up appearing in the season seven episode The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs, also known by its production title, The One That Checked Out His Library Book. He was placed among the extras at Central Perk, sitting with a woman in the cafe. The moment is brief, lasting less than two minutes, but he can be seen beneath the coffee house’s large sign.
What made the experience even stranger was that the cameo could have led to something far bigger.
“One of the writers for the show said, ‘If you would like a role on the show, give us two weeks’ notice, and we can write you into the script,’” Ian revealed.
At the time, Thorpe said no, choosing to stay fully committed to his swimming career. Looking back, though, he admits he might make a different decision now.
“Yeah. Now all of those things, absolutely,” he said.
“But you’ve got to remember as well, I am a very focused young person that was thinking anything like that is a distraction from what I’m trying to achieve.”
