Australian swimming champion Ian Thorpe has signed a deal with TV Asahi to become one of "faces" of the network, Sydney's Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday.
Under the deal, Thorpe will make regular visits to Japan for television appearances, while Japanese television crews will travel to Australia to film a series of specials about the Olympic gold medalist.
The Daily Telegraph reported the deal is worth seven figures to the 18-year-old swimmer, meaning more than A$1 million (about U.S. $500,000). "I'm overwhelmed by the support in Japan.
They are so enthusiastic about swimming," Thorpe was quoted as saying.