Having been retired for 6 years, Australian distance ace Grant Hackett made a return to training in the fall of 2014, prompted into considering a comeback by 22-time Olympic medalist, American Michael Phelps.
After a few months, gold medalist Hackett soon got a taste for competition and wound up qualifying for the 2015 World Championships, earning a spot on Australian national team as part of the 4 x 200 freestyle relay. However, Hackett admittedly didn’t perform up to his usual impactful standards, clocking just a 1:47.83 opening split of the Aussie 800m freestyle relay in prelims.
That performance didn’t deter the 35-year-old, however, as he remains focused on earning his 4th Olympic Games’ berth. Hackett hopes to earn a slot on his nation’s roster for Rio individually in the 400m freestyle, as well as a member of the 800m freestyle relay, even despite recent setbacks.
In an interview with The Citizen, Hackett describes how “Out of the first three months of the year I spent five weeks managing illness. There’s a disconnect between what my mind wants to do and what my body can do. I think my competitive nature did take over a little bit because I did overdo it.”
Specifically, Hackett points to his individual racing potential, saying, “I am not sure where my 400m will be at because I did miss a big chunk of work and that’s a worry, particularly when two of your rivals (Mack Horton and David McKeon) are among the best in the world.”
McKeon currently sits as the 2nd-fastest swimmer in the world this season in the 400m freestyle event, owning a mark of 3:46.48 from the New South Wales Championships earlier this year. Dolphin swimmer Horton is also in the world’s top 10 at the moment, situated in the 7th-swiftest spot with his time of 3:47.87.
Exemplifying his experience and realistic expectations, Hackett acknowledges that “The 400m is iffy and I am a bit off the pace there so I am focused on the 200m. That’s a realistic mindset for me.”
“In January, I was thinking: ‘Should I even be doing this when I could be doing so many other things?’ There was a sense of frustration. But it’s fun chasing the other guys and now I am excited to go to the trials,” he said.
“I will turn 36 in two months. How fast can I go at this age? How far can I push my body? That’s what I want to know, and I have already swum faster than I thought I would.”
The world will soon find out just how far the legend can push himself, as the Australian Olympic Trials begin in less than 2 weeks in Adelaide, South Australia. Hackett enters the meet seeded 3rd in the 400m freestyle behind aforementioned McKeon and Horton, while the Miami Swimming Club member holds the 5th seed in the individual 200m freestyle race. Ahead of Hackett on the Trials psych sheet in the shorter event are top seeded Cameron McEvoy, McKeon, Daniel Smith and Thomas Fraser-Holmes, although less than a second separates all 5 men making for an exciting battle.
“22-time Olympian, American Michael Phelps”
and still a medal contender. 😉
Yes, he’s 92 years old and made his first Olympiad at age 4!
Bad writing. The sentence means that Phelps went to 22 Olympics. It should have been “22 Olympics medalist”.
Simple mistake; 22-time Olympic medalist is more like it (although 22-time Olympian would be awesome).
Hope to see Hackett in Rio. A relay spot would do.
If he DOES make it, then its a rather sad indictment of the weakness of the AUS men’s program. The spirit may be willing but its drawing checks that his 35/36yo body can no longer pay. The facts were plain to see with his labouring heat swim in Kazan and this appears to be a very compromised preparation leading into these Trials.
Do you just think Australia is weak all the time?? Sure our men’s butterfly’s needs an urgent rebuild but Australia and its juniors coming through are doing remarkably well in everything else!
The facts speak for themselves !!
-Men’s fly remains horrific with the prospect of not qualifying anyone in either race (esp 200). The likes of Hadler, D’Orsogna & Wright have been around for more than 5-6 years and have never done the business in international competition.
– AUS has no one within 1.5sec of the 200BRS QT & Packard is the only realistic candidate to make the 100BRS QT.
– AUS did not qualify a 200IMer for Kazan so there needs to be a significant step-up to qualify one this year. TFH may qualify in the 400IM but his backstroke precludes him from contending.
– Horton is “plodding” this year and despite his PBs, will have… Read more »
The facts speak for themselves? Subjective interpretation of a few times isn’t fact!
The assertion that it is Hackett making the team that would be an indicator of a weak Aus team is ludicrous. If he swims 1:46 and picks up a relay spot I’d find it hard to believe that that’s because its a weak team. As for McKeon and Horton,I’d wager they’ll both be in the low 3:40s so if he makes it in front of them then, again not much of a poor indicator.
Frankly, I don’t know what your standard of ‘a weak men’s team’ is but it will certainly be stronger than London and probably Beijing. Potential medallists in 100 and 200 Back, 100, 400… Read more »