Grant Hackett: Surfer boy
One of the true superstars of world swimming, Grant Hackett offered few surprises at the Olympic trials, cruising to gold in the 1,500m freestyle final and also winning the 400m in the absence of the disqualified Ian Thorpe.
It would have been a shock if Hackett had been beaten in his pet event - scourers of statistics must travel back in time to 1997 to find the last time he was bested over the longest distance in swimming.
Perhaps it is this one-sided dominance which drives Hackett in his perennial challenging of Ian Thorpe in the 400m and 200m.
This year’s 200m final saw Hackett set a new personal best time of 1.45.61 to finish just behind the ‘Thorpedo.’
At the Barcelona Worlds in 2003 he claimed five medals, including three golds in the 800m, 1,500m freestyle and 4×200m freestyle relay events.
The 2000 Sydney Olympics saw him overcome a shocking illness that badly affected his performance in the shorter distances to nevertheless claim the 1,500m freestyle gold.
A product of the Gold Coast’s Miami Dolphins swim club, Hackett cites surfing, fast cars and playing drums and guitar as his favourite escapes from the pressures of the pool.
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