Amanda Beard denies dating Ian Thorpe

[Sexy Female Models]

Amanda Beard has recently denied the rumours of her being romantically linked with Australian heartthrob Ian Thorpe who is rumoured being a queer.

The sexy American swimmer was once said to date her fellow swimmer Michael Phelps, who swept eight golds from the 2008 Olympic Games, but Amanda said they were just friends.

Ian Thorpe, 26, previously talked about Amanda Beard, 27, and everyone assumed they were dating.

“Well, I did have a long-term, long-distance relationship (with champion American breaststroker Amanda Beard), and it was great while it lasted. It was sort of public knowledge we were seeing each other, and yet not. It went on for ages, years,” Ian was quoted as saying.

However, the former Aussie freestyle swimmer seems to fail to refuse his gay rumours after Amanda reveals via her agent, Evan Morganstein, that they are nothing more than friends.

"It's baloney," The Daily Telegraph quoted her as saying. "Take out the word relationship and put in the word friendship and that's exactly what it was."

Her agent still insists that the Olympic-level swimmer and model has never been in relationship with Ian. "To her it was absolutely a long-term, long distance friendship and that's all it ever was."

Meanwhile, Ian Thorpe has come out to deny the gay rumours which have been swirling throughout the internet after he has been said to be in love with his long-time Brazilian housemate Daniel Mendes.

Ian said, "Over the last few days there have been a series of press articles published, speculating about my friendship with Daniel Mendes. I am still friends with many of the people I competed and trained with during my swimming career. Daniel is one such good friend whom I have known for many years.

"In the past, on several separate occasions, I have answered questions about my sexuality openly and honestly with the media ... my situation in this regard has not changed.

He added, "I don't have a problem with being a gay icon; it's not a big deal to me. But I think the gay speculation, along with when I was accused of taking drugs in 2000, was an attempt to pull me down from the top."