Ian Thorpe leaves hospital following scare for the five-time Olympic champion

Early reports suggested the Australian could lose the use of his arm

Ian Thorpe had Rio 2016 in his sights (Getty Images)

Ian Thorpe has been released from hospital in Sydney following an infection, his manager has revealed.

The five-time Olympic champion swimmer had contracted the infection in his shoulder during surgery earlier this year.

The 31-year-old's manager James Erskine told the Australian Associated Press: "It looks as though the infections have cleared up. It can always re-infect as it's done twice before, but we are hopeful."

There had been reports earlier this month that Thorpe was in intensive care and could lose the use of an arm, but that was dismissed at the time by Erskine.

PA