Complex sentence: Sheridan, a five-time Olympic gold medalist, was present to watch his record broken, approached Thorpe after the event and shook his hand saying, Jim, my boy, you're a great man.
Split into simpler sentences: Sheridan, a five-time Olympic gold medalist, was present to watch his record broken, and approached Thorpe after the event. He shook his hand saying, Jim my boy, you're a great man.