Ian Thorpe

Athens, 2004. Major highways include:. Sydney, 2000. Montana has several ski areas including:. He has recently bought a $2.9 million house in Caringbah, a southern suburb of Sydney. The Minor League baseball teams are:. The race attracted unprecedented media attention in Australia, and Thorpe's victory made him one of the most celebrated Australian athletes of all time. Some of the historical cities and towns of Montana are:.

Thorpe's performances in Sydney and Athens have made him a national hero in Australia, a country which reveres sporting stars. His victory in the 200 metres at Athens pitted him against American swimming phenomenon Michael Phelps, Sydney gold medallist Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands and his fellow Australian Grant Hackett. Some of the major cities and towns in Montana are:. Instead, his other enthusiasm appears to be fashion, as an ambassador for Armani clothing and his own range of designer jewellery. Montana's largest city is Billings. His lack of interest in (and aptitude for) other sports is well-known. Its industrial outputs are mining, lumber and wood products, food processing, and tourism. He is quiet, mild-mannered, thoughtful, articulate, but extremely guarded in his statements, and he reportedly makes considerable efforts to insulate himself from the media when preparing for and during important events. Its agricultural outputs are cattle, wheat, barley, sugar beets, hay, and hogs.

Away from the pool, Thorpe in many ways defies the stereotype of Australian sportspeople. The Bureau of Economic Analysis (http://www.bea.gov/) estimates that Montana's total state product in 2003 was $26 billion. Per capital personal income in 2003 was $25,406, 47^th in the nation. After some deliberation, the second qualifier, Craig Stevens, withdrew from the event, and Thorpe accepted the offered place. Several Indian reservations are located in Montana: Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Crow Indian Reservation, Rocky Boys Indian Reservation, Blackfeet Indian Reservation, and the Flathead Indian Reservation. Australia's Olympic selection rules allow for a qualifier to stand down, and for another swimmer to be selected in their place. senators are Max Baucus (Democrat) and Conrad Burns (Republican). He was disqualified from the 400 m freestyle (his best event) after making a false start. Its two U.S.

In late March 2004 Thorpe competed in the qualification events. The capital of Montana is Helena and its current Governor is Brian Schweitzer (Democrat) who was sworn in on January 3, 2005. Thorpe's preparations for the Athens Olympics were clouded by controversy. See: List of Montana Governors. He has however, been able to maintain a trademark six-beat kick to power away to victory in the closing stages of races, attributed to his unnaturally large feet. It is operated by the National Park Service, but is also a 1900-acre (7.7 kmē) working ranch. At 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) and 105 kg (231 lb), he is very large for a swimmer and many thought that as he matured and continued to grow he would be unable to maintain his performance as a teenager. The Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site in Deer Lodge Valley is maintained as a link to the ranching style of the late 19th century.

Thorpe's success is based on a strong work ethic, attention to detail, flawless technique, mental strength, and a physiology suited to swimming. Cattle ranching has long been central to Montana's history and economy. In total, he has broken world records (either individually or as part of a relay team) 22 times. Montana was also the location of the final battles of the Nez Perce Wars. Thorpe has also pushed Australian relay teams to unprecedented success, anchoring the winning 4x100 and 4x200 freestyle relay teams in Sydney, the first time the United States had ever been beaten in the events. Colonel George Armstrong Custer was fought in Montana near the present day town of Hardin. He has been nicknamed "Thorpedo" by the Australian press for his swimming prowess. Army Lt.

His dominance has broadened to include the 200 and 400 metre freestyle (at which he holds the world record), and he is one of the fastest 100 metre freestylers in the world. For instance, the last stand of U.S. Since 1998 Thorpe has completely dominated the 400 metre freestyle event, winning the event at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games, the 2001 Fukuoka World Championships (at which he won a total of six gold medals), and again in Athens. Montana was the scene of the Native Americans' last effort to keep their land. He also excelled in the 200 metre freestyle and the 200 metre butterfly. Montana became a United States territory (Montana Territory) on May 26, 1864 and the 41^st state on November 8, 1889. He came second to another Australian teenager, Grant Hackett, in the 400 metre freestyle, beginning a rivalry which has continued ever since. The smaller Pend d'Oreille and Kalispel tribes were found around Flathead Lake and the western mountains, respectively.

Thorpe made his first impact in 1997, when he was selected at 14 for the Australian team at the Pan Pacific competition in Fukuoka, Japan. Groups included the Crows in the south-central area, the Cheyenne in the southeast, the Blackfeet, Assiniboine and Gros Ventres in the central and north-central region and the Kootenai and Salish in the western sector. Instead, he followed his sister, Christina, into competitive swimming. Native Americans were the first inhabitants of modern-day Montana. Although Thorpe's father, Ken, excelled as a cricketer, Ian did not have the same ability. Sagebrush and various species of grass are common plants in the region, and forests cover 1/4 of the state. Thorpe was born in Milperra, in the western suburbs of Sydney, and was educated at East Hills High School. Additionally, flowers native to Montana include asters, bitterroots, daisies, lupines, poppies, primroses, columbine, lilies and dryads.

Ian James Thorpe (born October 13, 1982), Australian swimmer, is regarded as one of the greatest middle-distance swimmers of all time after winning the 200 and 400 metre freestyle races at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. He has won five Olympic gold medals, more than any other Australian. Vegetation of the area includes pine, larch, fir, spruce, aspen, birch, cedar, ash, and alder trees. Bronze : Men's 100 freestyle (48.56). The Yellowstone, a tributary of the Missouri, rises in the Yellowstone Park in Wyoming, flows northeast across the state through canyons and gorges, and enters the Missouri a few miles east of the North Dakota boundary. Silver : Men's 4 x 200 m freestyle relay (7:07.46). The Missouri river, formed by the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin rivers crosses the northeastern part of the state and enters North Dakota. Gold : 200 metre freestyle (1:44.71) - Olympic Record. The Clark Fork of the Missouri (not to be confused with the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River) rises in the Rocky Mountains near Butte, and after flowing west turns north and forms portion of the Idaho boundary.

Gold : 400 metre freestyle (3:43.10). The principal river systems in Montana are the Clark Fork of the Columbia, the Missouri, and the Yellowstone. Silver : 4 x 100 metre medley relay (3:35.27). The highest point in the state, Granite Peak, is 12,799 feet high. Gold : 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay (7:7.05). The mountains are intersected by numerous valleys and canyons, through which flow several beautiful rivers. Gold : 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay (3:13.67). Besides the prominent mountain ranges there are many spurs, detached ridges, and smooth, sloping buttes.

Gold : 400 metre freestyle (3:40.59). In the south near the Yellowstone River the mountains reach an altitude of 10,000 feet and the peaks are perpetually covered with snow. Silver : 200 metre freestyle (1:45.83). East of the Rocky Mountains is a rolling tableland, traversed by several large rivers. Between these ranges is a great basin, forming one-fifth of the entire area. The Bitterroot Mountains from the western boundary line, and east of this the main chain of the Rocky Mountains cross the state.

In the west it is extremely mountainous. The surface of the state is highly diverse. 275,000 acres (1100 kmē) are administered as state parks and forests. The Federal government administers 36,000,000 acres (146,000 kmē).

Other sites include the Little Bighorn National Monument, Bighorn Canyon National Recreational Area, Big Hole National Battlefield, and the National Bison Range. There are also a number of National Forests and National Wildlife Refuges. Montana contains Glacier National Park and portions of Yellowstone National Park. Montana is also one of many areas to claim the disputed title of "world's shortest river" (the Roe River). Major rivers in the state include the Missouri, Clark Fork of the Columbia, Milk, Flathead and Yellowstone.

With a land area of 376,978 kmē (145,552 square miles), Montana is the fourth largest in the United States (after Alaska, Texas, and California). In the south is the Wyoming border, and on the west and southwest is the Idaho border, marked by the Bitterroot River. To the east is the border with North Dakota; to the southeast is a short border with South Dakota. The state borders the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Montana and Canada share a 877km (545-mile) northern border. Main articles: List of Montana counties, List of Montana rivers. The USS Montana was named in honor of the state. postal abbreviation is MT.

Its U.S. The largest city is Billings. The state capital is Helena. Senator (Max Baucus).

The state is generally regarded as Republican; many are surprised to hear that the state has a Democratic governor (Brian Schweitzer), Democratic-controlled legislature (the Montana State Legislature), and one Democratic U.S. Montana's people are largely homogenous, with 89.5 percent of the population white (but with a sizable American Indian representation at 6.2 percent). The state became the first to elect a female member of Congress, Jeannette Rankin. Originally inhabited by Native Americans, modern-day Montana became Montana Territory in 1864 and later became the 41st state in 1889.

The western one-third of the state is primarily mountainous terrain, while the eastern two-third is part of the northern Great Plains. The state ranks fourth in size but has a low population and population density, with much of the state being rural. The economy is primarily ranching-based, with some agricultural crops (wheat, barley, sugar beets) and a significant lumber and mineral industry. The name probably comes from the Spanish word montaņa ("mountain"). Montana is a state in the western United States.

MacLean, Norman, Young Men and Fire. MacLean, Norman, A River Runs Through It. Doig, Ivan, English Creek. Doig, Ivan, Dancing at the Rascal Fair.

ISBN 0806118903.. University of Oklahoma: 1984. Montana: An Uncommon Land. Toole, Kenneth Ross.

ISBN 0295971290.. University of Washington: 1991. Montana: A History of Two Centuries. al.

Lang, William L., et. ISBN 0803273398.. Bison Books: 2003. Montana: High, Wide, and Handsome.

Howard, Joseph Kinsey. Highway 93. U.S. Highway 212.

U.S. Highway 2. U.S. Interstate 94.

Interstate 90. Interstate 15. In the movie 'Star Trek: First Contact', Montana is the location of the historical first contact between humans and an alien race, the Vulcans. Shortest river in the world: The Roe River.

State fish: Blackspotted Cutthroat Trout. State bird: Western Meadowlark. State animal: Grizzly Bear. State tree: Ponderosa Pine.

State flower: Bitterroot. Turner near Libby. Showdown Ski Area near White Sulphur Springs. Red Lodge Mountain near Red Lodge.

Moonlight Basin near Bozeman. Discovery near Philipsburg. Bridger Bowl near Bozeman. Blacktail near Lakeside.

Big Sky near Bozeman. Big Mountain near Whitefish. Billings Mustangs. Helena Brewers.

Great Falls White Sox. Missoula Osprey.