Legendary distance swimmer and Australian Worlds team member Grant Hackett does not want to see his Aussie team blow another relay opportunity in Kazan. On the first day of the meet, the Australian 4x100m free relay finished in a troubling 13th, which locked them out of the finals and now leaves the squad scrambling to secure even a spot at Rio in 2016.
35-year old Hackett, who has not swum internationally since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, isn’t shy about throwing his swim cap in the ring for the role of lead-off on the 4×200 freestyle relay in order to get a different result.
He tells The Courier Mail, “I have to prove myself. There will probably be other people too who want to lead off and post a time but for me, given I don’t have an individual opportunity at these world championships, I’d love to be able to get up on the block and see the prep and work I’ve done and improvements I’ve made.”
Since coming out of retirement late in 2014, Hackett has remarkably been getting faster in the mid-distance freestyle events. His steady comeback culminated in a 3rd place 400m freestyle finish and a 4th place 200m freestyle finish at his country’s National Championships this past April, earning him a spot on the 800 free relay here in Kazan.
On the prospect of being lead-off, Hackett continued, “If I don’t get that opportunity I’m there to play my role in the team and wherever the coaches and other athletes see that I’m suited best to get the best performance for us that is where I will go too.”
Ever the professional with his multitude of highly pressurized racing experience, Hackett says “If we just focus on process and performance we will get the result. This relay team and even the 4x100m team from what I’ve seen in the past has over-analysed things before they’ve got on the blocks. It’s about just doing every single thing right and getting behind the blocks and the result will take care of itself.”
Besides Hackett, the remainder of the squad’s 4×200 relay is up in the air. David McKeon failed to final in the individual event and Thomas Fraser-Holmes and Kurt Herzog are both vying for a spot in the final foursome with Cameron McEvoy.
The above is too comical . Drop Nirvana & Einstein for Smith & Herzog . Those 2 had their chance & flunked . Grant always delivers . More than a bit iffy on Fraser – Holmes swimming wise but he is nice to animals .
I understand that a little better. I always enjoy your posts. They definitely make one think and are not predictable.
Grant the unevolved man , the metro, Junior Einstein & Davo . Davo is merely here on his 10th life to play before his ascension to Nirvana .
What in the world is coming out of that mouth?
He’s as good as any of them at this point considering the 1:47 McEvoy threw down. Let the old timer lead off!