Grant Hackett Pursuing Legal Action Involving Pre-Nup…..Previously retired-now-on-the-comeback-trail Australian Olympic swimmer, Grant Hackett, is suing two law firms he says are involved in a botched pre-nuptial agreement deal. Brisbane-based Mullins Lawyers and Melbourne-based Nevile & Co are both being sued by Hackett in his claim that he signed a ‘faulty’ pre-nup a month before his wedding. He alleges that the financial agreement was drafted “in a way that did not comply with legal requirements” and that the “lawyers failed to fix the problems when he made changes to the agreement in 2009.” Hackett further accused the involved law firms of failing to tell him there was any ‘defect’. As a result, the swim star says he has suffered financial loss. Hackett married pop star Candice Alley in 2007, but split in 2012. The couple have a pair of twin children together, born in 2009.
The Josh Project Awarded Grant…..State Senator Edna Brown (D., Toledo), has announced that The Josh Project is the recipient of a $45,054 grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The purpose of the grant is to fund assist the non-profit charity in hiring additional swim instructors, as well as increasing access to the pools. The Josh Project was founded in 2007 by Wanda Butts in memory of her son, Josh, who, at age 16, drowned at a lake in 2006. The organization’s aim is to spread water safety education through various programs, including affordable swimming lessons and drowning prevention. According to its website, The Josh Project is a local Make Splash Partners with USA Swimming and the Greater Toledo Aquatic Club. Its work has been recognized by the National Water Safety Congress, as well as the National Drowning Prevention Alliance.
St. Lucia’s OECS Championship Roster Announced…..In the upcoming OECS Swimming Championships set to take place November 5th-8th, 2015 in Antigua, with the entities of St. Lucia, Antigua, British Virgin Islands, Grenada and St. Vincent set to compete. St. Lucia has announced its 36-swimmer squad for the event, whose members range from the 8&U category to the 18 & Over category. For the first time, St. Lucia’s squad includes two open water swimmers. St. Lucia’s Amateur Swimming Association acknowledges the receipt of support from Lime, Lucelec, West Indies Shipping, Piton Malt, Bank of St. Lucia and KFC. You can see the entire roster here.
New Yakima Indoor Aquatics Center Approved…..This week, the Yakima City Council approved of an estimated $9 million indoor aquatics center to be jointly funded with the Yakima Family YMCA, although not without controversy. Opponents were present at the vote, who expressed their concerns about a rushed-through project, which “ignores recreational needs in underserved parts of the city.” The approved facility is slated to include a lap pool, recreation pool and warm water therapy pool, as well as a slide, spray and splash area and lazy river. The city is required to contribute $4.5million to the construction, as well as pay half of the annual operating and maintenance costs ongoing. Those are estimated to be in the ballpark of $500,000 and $600,000 a year. The Yakima Family YMCA has from now until December 2017 in which to raise at least 80% of their share of the function.
