Why 'worrying' photo of Olympic legend Ian Thorpe in a wheelchair could spell trouble for Australia's already under siege reality TV shows

READ MORE: Olympics legend spotted in wheelchair after 'serious and painful' accident while shooting reality TV show

A photograph of Ian Thorpe in a wheelchair sparked concern for the Olympic legend after he suffered a 'serious and painful' injury while filming for a reality TV show.

The swimmer, 41, was spotted in a wheelchair on Wednesday while heading into the Brisbane Aquatic Centre, where he is doing broadcast work for the Paris trials.

He is believed to have sustained the injury while filming The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity, where he teamed up with childhood friend Christian Miranda, according to 7News.

[video_shortcode_video_html_5 src="https://videos.dailymail.co.uk/video/mol/2023/11/09/5305327841402863572/1024x576_MP4_5305327841402863572.mp4" itemprop="image" content="https://videos.dailymail.co.uk/video/mol/2023/11/09/5305327841402863572/1024x576_MP4_5305327841402863572.mp4" data-src="https://videos.dailymail.co.uk/video/mol/2023/11/09/5305327841402863572/1024x576_MP4_5305327841402863572.mp4"]

Now, it has been claimed insurance on Aussie reality TV shows has 'skyrocketed' because of contestants getting injured on sets in a pattern which could spell trouble for the industry.

A source told Yahoo! Lifestyle that there has been a 'massive' price hike because of the number of accidents during challenges on the show over the past 12 months.

A photograph of Ian Thorpe in a wheelchair sparked concern for the Olympic legend after he suffered a 'serious and painful' injury while filming for a reality TV show

'Some shows have been in production for 10 years and have never made a claim, but others, which are 'newer concepts' are responsible for the massive hike in costs that affects every streaming and free-to-air network,' the source alleged.

'It is really unfair that on some shows, you can be hung upside down in a helicopter and be safe, but yet major accidents have occurred on something as simple as a golf course.'

'The safety of all participants is paramount and that goes without question but it begs the question why some shows are repeat offenders while others are doing the right thing,' they added.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Network 10 for comment.

It has been claimed insurance on Aussie reality TV has 'skyrocketed' because of stars getting injured in a pattern which could spell trouble for the industry (Ian is pictured this month)

Denise Drysdale memorably fractured her shoulder while filming Holey Moley in 2020 while Ross Clarke-Jones broke his ankle on Survivor Australia back in 2019.

Little is known about Ian's accident, but he is believed to have sustained the injury while filming The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity for Network 10.

Last month, it was confirmed that Ian had joined the next cast of the show alongside the likes of Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Pete Helliar, Luke McGregor and Jett Kenny.

Concern was sparked for Ian when it emerged last week that he is using a wheelchair to get in and out of the Brisbane Aquatic Centre following his accident while filming.

'We're told Ian Thorpe is completely OK, but apparently the injury was a serious and painful one,' Seven's Chris Reason said after Ian was spotted in a wheelchair.

Little is known about Ian's accident, but he is believed to have sustained the injury while filming The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity for Network 10

Swimmer Ian won five Olympic gold medals during his glittering career in the pool and has become a household name since retirement.

He has also become a leading voice for LGBTIQ+ rights in sport, having come out as gay in 2014.

Ian kept his sexuality hidden during his professional career, but later said he regretted doing so because it made the pressure of coming out feel more confronting.

'I had to swim the Olympics and had to win. I did not want anything to be a distraction for me. I don't want people talking about this,' he said earlier this year.

Last month, it was confirmed that Ian had joined the next cast of the show alongside the likes of Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Pete Helliar, Luke McGregor and Jett Kenny (the cast is pictured)

'So every time it is alluded you may be gay, you're thinking of it as a negative thing and as a young person you make it bigger than it needs to be. So I answered no.'

'I'm comfortable saying I'm a gay man. And I don't want people to feel the same way I did. You can grow up, you can be comfortable and you can be gay,' he added.

The five-time Olympic gold medalist came out as gay during an interview with respected English television presenter Sir Michael Parkinson in July 2014.

At the time, the athlete shared: 'I've thought about this for a long time. I'm not straight. And this is only something that very recently - in the past two weeks - I've been comfortable telling the closest people around me exactly that.'

Swimmer Ian won five Olympic gold medals during his glittering career in the pool and has become a household name since retirement

[video_shortcode_video_html_5 src="https://videos.dailymail.co.uk/video/mol/2023/11/09/5305327841402863572/1024x576_MP4_5305327841402863572.mp4" itemprop="image" content="https://videos.dailymail.co.uk/video/mol/2023/11/09/5305327841402863572/1024x576_MP4_5305327841402863572.mp4" data-src="https://videos.dailymail.co.uk/video/mol/2023/11/09/5305327841402863572/1024x576_MP4_5305327841402863572.mp4"]

Read More

REVEALED: The celebrities set to compete on the new season of The Amazing Race Australia

The athlete later revealed during an episode of This Is Your Life in 2022 that he decided to speak out about his sexuality because he was finally 'comfortable'.

'I was always doing this interview with Sir Michael Parkinson. I had just come out to my family and to my very very closest friends,' Ian told host Melissa Doyle.

'I had spent some time with [Sir Michael Parkinson] before the interview and told him, "You should ask me if I'm gay because I'm going to tell you I am".'

'I needed to say it. It was the first time I felt I was comfortable enough to put my self out there. It was important for me to be my authentic self,' he added.