Thorpe’s got it wrong on captaincy, says Hackett

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GRANT Hackett has bitten back at Ian Thorpe’s criticism of the Australian squad’s policy of appointing a captain, telling his outspoken and high-profile teammate to talk to him directly if he has a problem with it.

Thorpe has said he has no interest in replacing the injured Hackett as the Australian skipper at the Commonwealth Games.

“I don’t think there should be one,” Thorpe said at the FINA World Cup meeting last weekend.

“I think when we go in there, we’re a collective group and we shouldn’t single anyone out. We’re the Australian team and I think that’s the best way for it to stay.”

But Hackett believes having a designated leader - an innovation this year under head coach Alan Thompson after previous coach Don Talbot spurned the idea - is of immense benefit to the team. He hopes Thorpe will embrace the concept when he returns to the team after his lay-off since the 2004 Olympics.

“It’s not even designed for someone like Ian,” Hackett said yesterday. “Ian knows how to handle himself. It’s designed for a 40-member squad.

“It’s designed to be in the best interests of the group as a whole - to have someone there who can talk to the different genders, the younger people, the older people and to bring the whole team together.

“To have someone who can talk to the head coach under a formal structure about issues people might have.

“You talk about singling people out. Well, people are singled out anyway. Ian is singled out by his great performances. Ricky Ponting is singled out as captain in the cricket. George Gregan in the rugby.

“It’s not a negative thing and I think Ian is talking about it as though it’s a negative.

“I don’t think that’s very supportive of it. The nature of sport is that people are singled out all the time - but they’re singled out for positive reasons.”

However, Hackett said Thorpe was entitled to his opinion.

“It’s a job he doesn’t want to do and that’s fair enough, but it doesn’t mean it’s not the right thing for the team,” Hackett said.

“For someone like me, I enjoy that leadership role and trying to help the team and push it forward. If it didn’t work, I’d say great, let’s not do this. I wouldn’t waste my time.

“It’s not like anyone is saying, ‘Here’s a packet of money to do it, here’s this massive incentive.’ It’s not like that.

“It’s like, ‘Grant, would you like to take on this extra work and play this role?’ And I’d love to.

“The sport and the team has given so much to me and being captain, and presenting the sport better, is the least I can do.”

Boon awarded sporting honour

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`Boon’s grit and determination at the crease were legendary… ‘
David Boon joined an illustrious list of fresh intakes into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame this week.

The former Launceston batsman attended a black tie ceremony in Melbourne with his wife Pip to celebrate the coming of age of the hall of fame.

Described as the highest profile intake of members in the organisation’s 21-year history, Boon joined Sydney Olympics gold medallist Cathy Freeman, Wimbledon tennis champion Pat Cash and basketballer Andrew Gaze in taking the number of full members to 337.

The hall of fame recognised Boon’s “distinguished” career with Tasmania and Australia in which he scored 7422 Test runs, including 21 hundreds, and became the fifth most capped Australian player.

As part of his induction it said: “Boon’s grit and determination at the crease were legendary, and he often delivered the runs when Australia needed them most.”

The 44-year-old was a member of the 1987 World Cup winning side, claiming man of the match honours in the final. From 181 one day internationals, he amassed 5964 runs including five centuries.

David Johnston, chief executive of Tasmanian Cricket Association, which recently awarded Boon life membership, said: “It’s a great honour, well deserved and a testament to his contribution to Australian sport and cricket in particular.”

Swimmer Grant Hackett took out the top prize at the hall of fame awards.

The triple World Championship gold medallist was awarded the prestigious Don Award as an inspiration to his nation and his peers.

An inaugural spirit of sport award went to Lee Freedman, Glen Boss and Tony and Christine Santic in honour of the achievements of triple Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva.

Hackett urges Thorpeto rethink

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IF Olympic champion Ian Thorpe does not contest the 400m freestyle again at championship level, no-one will regret it more than his greatest rival Grant Hackett.

Fresh from winning the Australian swimmer of the year award, Hackett said yesterday he would love Thorpe to revisit the 400m to revive their enthralling rivalry - once the 1500m champion recovers from the shoulder surgery that has ruled him out of the Commonwealth Games.

“It was like racing Kieren (Perkins) in the 1500m over the years - I really enjoyed that and everything that was brought to the event,” Hackett said.

“I have had that with Ian in the 400m and I would like to think we could do that again.

“I enjoyed racing him and I guess we could still race in the 200m but we are getting out of my forte there.”

Hackett, 25, said he respected Thorpe’s right to decide for himself if he returned to the 400m after the Commonwealth Games, but he would rather race Thorpe than have the event to himself as he did at this year’s world titles.

“If we don’t (race again), we don’t. We have had so many races and duels over that period that I can’t really complain, and it’s not like we haven’t put on a show.”

Thorpe announced last weekend that he would not swim the 400m at the Commonwealth Games.

“Don’t believe what anyone else tells you because I’m not doing it,” Thorpe said.

He intimated that if he attained success in the 100m freestyle in Melbourne that he would stick with his new sprint-focused direction.

Hackett said he was making a quick recovery from the arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder last week and could already lift his arm over his head.

He plans to be back in the water by the New Year but has no hope of being ready for the Commonwealth Games trials in late January.

However, he said there was some chance he could be fit to compete at the world short-course championships in Shanghai in April.

“I definitely won’t be swimming the 1500m there, but maybe I could do a relay,” Hackett said.

“The priority is making a full recovery from my surgery but provided I am happy with everything, the short course is still slightly on the cards.”

Hackett said he would be looking for a long-course meet “somewhere in the world” around August so he could post a good 1500m time.

Ironically, the Australian team will be competing at the Pan Pacific championships in Vancouver then and would dearly love the Australian captain to lead the team into competition against the No.1 ranked Americans.

But the Pan Pacific team will be selected from the Commonwealth Games trials so Hackett will not have an opportunity to win selection for that event.

Hackett said he still hoped to play some role in assisting the team at the Melbourne Games.

Hackett believes his Thorpe rivalry may be over

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GRANT Hackett believes there is a distinct possibility that he may have raced Ian Thorpe over 400 metres for the last time.

The pair have dominated the event in recent years, having finished first and second at three world championships (Hackett won the other one, which Thorpe did not contest), two Commonwealth Games and also at the Athens Olympics. But with Thorpe deciding to focus, for the time being, on the 100 metres freestyle, Hackett feels that their most recent clash — at the 2004 Athens Olympics — could be their last.

“He has been saying for a long time that he wanted to focus on the sprints and that’s what he is doing, and full credit to him for sticking by his word,” Hackett said yesterday.

“That’s where he sees his focus now and that’s where his motivation is and that’s where he wants to achieve, and I guess we have to support that and I certainly do.

“If he never swims another 400 again, so be it. What he has done in that event … is second to none. I think he can depart from that race and be totally content. I’d love to see him back there again, but whether we do or don’t, we’ll have to wait and see. But it’s not a nice thought to think that I won’t race him again (in the 400). I’ll definitely miss that.”

While Thorpe is aiming at the sprints at the moment, with the lure of a third consecutive Olympic 400 title beckoning in Beijing, surely he will return to the middle-distance for a shot at history in becoming the first man to win the same swimming event at three successive Olympics? “Ian is different to everyone else and some things that other people care about he doesn’t really care about at all,” Hackett said.

“So winning a third gold medal (in the 400) might not mean anything to him. He’s already won five gold medals at the Olympics, and just winning a third individual gold medal (at three consecutive Olympics) is just as good as winning a third consecutive gold medal in the same event, I think. I don’t think it will really worry him if it’s in the 400 or 200 or 100 or 50.”

Hackett might consider taking a break from his pet event, the 1500, after the Beijing Games. He feels he still hasn’t achieved his best in the 200 and 400 and to do so he would need to focus his training around those races.

“I feel like I’ve got more to give in the 400. I might get to that stage where I drop it (the 1500) for a year and come back to it.”

Hackett has no intentions of giving up the 1500 at the moment. He may miss all the major events next year, but aims to swim “a fast 1500 at some venue around the world”.

Hackett might sack 1500m

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FIRST Ian Thorpe wants to shelve the 400m freestyle. Now distance champion Grant Hackett has revealed he would give up the 1500m freestyle after the Beijing Olympics to prolong his career in the pool.

Hackett, crowned Australia’s swimmer of the year in Sydney on Monday night, said yesterday he was determined to swim on after the 2008 Games.

But Hackett said the event in which he has won two Olympic gold medals may not be the priority, with the 400m likely to be a long-term focus.

“I believe I’ve got a lot of improvement in my 400m,” said Hackett, who will miss the Commonwealth Games after shoulder surgery last week.

“If I don’t get that by 2008 and get down to a time that I feel content with, I might drop the 1500m after 2008 and really focus on getting my 200m and 400m down.

“I just hope I get down to 3min 40sec eventually (3.40.08 is Ian Thorpe’s world record). That would be a great time.”

Hackett, however, said he supported Thorpe’s decision not to race the 400m freestyle at the Commonwealth Games.

Thorpe ruled out swimming his signature event in Melbourne after making his return to competition on Saturday.

“He has been saying for a long time that he wanted to focus on the sprint,” Hackett said.

“I guess we have to support that, and I certainly do.

“If he never swims another 400m again, so be it. What he’s achieved in that event has been second to none.

“He can depart from that race and be totally content.

“I’d love to see him back there again, whether we do or don’t, we’ll wait and see.”

Hackett did not believe Thorpe would be tempted by the lure of a third Olympic 400m crown in Beijing, saying another individual gold in the 200m, or the 100m freestyle would mean just as much.

But he admitted he would be disappointed if he never had the opportunity to race Thorpe over the eight-lap distance again.

“Not having Ian at world championships this year next to me on the blocks, once again, it felt like a little bit of a void,” he said

“For a while, certainly, it’s not a nice thought to think that I won’t race him again (in the 400m).

“I will definitely miss that.”

Hackett, who will have his right arm in a sling for another week, will visit his surgeon again in Melbourne today and has already begun plotting his rehabilitation.

While wear and tear played a part in his shoulder injury, Hackett said his doctor believed the inflammation could have been initially caused by a virus.

The 25-year-old said he planned to be back in the water training lightly by Christmas, but would not risk pushing himself.

“I’m going to give myself a little bit of a break, there’s probably no point in rushing things,” he said.

“Everything has been going great so far. I’ve been really happy with the way the shoulder has progressed after the surgery.

“I just hope it keeps improving at the rate it has and it should be no time before I am back swimming the long kilometres that I have to.”

Hackett named Swimmer of the Year

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Olympic champion and multiple world record holder Grant Hackett was named the Australian Swimmer of the Year at an award ceremony in Sydney last night, just days after undergoing career-saving shoulder surgery.

Hackett had his arm in a sling as he became the first athlete to win five categories on Australian swimming’s night of nights.

Hackett also took home the People’s Choice award as the public’s favourite swimmer, and the Swimmers’ Choice award voted for by members of the Australian team. The other two prizes were distance and middle distance freestyle awards.

The award marked a first outright Swimmer of the Year win for Hackett, who shared the accolade with Ian Thorpe two years ago.

The awards capped an incredible year for the 25-year-old swimmer who won three gold medals and broke the 800 metres freestyle world record at the World Championships in Montreal.

“This is the icing on what has been a year of highs in Montreal and a year which has presented itself with yet another challenge,” he said.

“It is disappointing not to be swimming at next year’s Commonwealth Games but my surgery went well last week,” he added.

But Hackett said he was confident of being in form in time for the next World Championships in 2007 and then the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

“The doctor tells me I will be back in the water in no time and 2007 is not that far way,” he said.

Other contenders for Swimmer of the Year were fellow world champions and world record holders Leisel Jones, Libby Lenton and Jess Schipper.

Lenton for her part carried home three awards - short course, female sprint freestyler and middle distance Swimmer of the Year.

Hackett scoops prize pool at awards ceremony

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GRANT Hackett has become the first competitor to win the triple crown at the Australian swimmer of the year awards. Hackett last night was named the swimmer of the year, swimmers’ swimmer of the year and people’s choice swimmer of the year.

It was the first time Hackett has won the swimmer of the year award outright, having shared the prize with Ian Thorpe in 2003. Hackett also won the distance and middle-distance freestyle awards.

Few could argue with the results, given Hackett’s stellar 2005 in which the 25-year-old won three golds and broke the 800 metres freestyle world record at the world championships in Montreal.

Hackett won the swimmer of the year award from fellow world champions and world record-holders Leisel Jones, Libby Lenton and Jess Schipper.

“This is the icing on what has been a year of highs in Montreal and a year which has presented itself with yet another challenge,” said Hackett, who recently has been ruled out of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games because of shoulder surgery. “. . . My surgery went well last week,” he said. “The doctor tells me I will be back in the water in no time and 2007 is not that far way.”

Lenton, also carried home three awards - shortcourse, female sprint freestyler and middle-distance swimmer of the year.

Hackett’s clean sweep

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THIS is the year Grant Hackett finally came into his own, as the Telstra Swimmer of the Year awards confirmed in Sydney last night.

Australia team captain Hackett became the first athlete in the 16-year history of the awards to claim all three top prizes - Swimmer of the Year, the coveted Swimmers’ Swimmer (voted by his peers in the national team) and the People’s Choice award.

The big Queenslander collected a total of five awards (including best male middle distance and distance freestyler) with his right shoulder in a sling after arthroscopic surgery last week for inflammation in the joint.

Due to the injury, Hackett will miss the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in March.

After nine years at the pinnacle of world swimming, this is the first time that the dual Olympic 1500m champion has claimed the ultimate award on his own. He shared it with his friend, rival and regular nemesis Ian Thorpe in 2003.

But, in Thorpe’s absence from competition this year, Hackett revealed all his inspirational qualities to lead the national team to its best performance at the world championships (13 gold medals) in Montreal.

Hackett claimed three of those, becoming the first man to win the 400m, 800m, 1500m treble at the world championships. Even more impressively, he demolished Thorpe’s 800m freestyle record.

He also became the most decorated swimmer in championship history, with a career total of 17 medals, and first to win four consecutive 1500m titles.

Hackett was selected as Swimmer of the Year from a field which mirrored the superb young women’s team. The other contenders included fellow world champions Leisel Jones, Libby Lenton and Jessicah Schipper.

“This is the icing on what has been a year of highs in Montreal and a year which has presented itself with yet another challenge,” Hackett said.

“The memories of Montreal were awesome. To captain the team and to achieve what I achieved in the pool was something I will never forget.”

Lenton, who won five medals in Montreal (three gold and two silver), was the other big winner at the awards night.

She received three gongs - best female short course swimmer and the best female sprint and middle distance freestyler of the year.

Stephan Widmer, who coaches Lenton and Jones, shared coach of the year honours with Hackett’s mentor Denis Cotterell.

You’re still our top gun

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GRANT Hackett’s pain at missing the Melbourne Commonwealth Games was eased slightly last night when he was crowned Australia’s best swimmer.

The 1500m champion’s record-breaking performances at this year’s Montreal world championships were recognised when he was named 2005 swimmer of the year at a gala awards dinner in Sydney.

It was the first time Hackett had claimed the award to himself. He shared the honours in 2003 with Ian Thorpe, a five-time winner.

Hackett made an emotional withdrawal from the Commonwealth Games last week due to a chronic shoulder injury. He revealed last night doctors were pleased with the result of his shoulder arthroscopy.

In a sign of his popularity among his peers and the public, Hackett last night was also named swimmers’ swimmer of the year - voted on by the Australian team - and the people’s choice award.

In doing so, the 800m and 1500m freestyle world record holder became the first swimmer in the award’s 16-year history to win the three main honours.

Hackett was also named male middle-distance and distance swimmer of the year to cap off a record number of award wins.

The awards complete a stellar year for the 25-year-old, who led Australia to its greatest world championship medal haul in July after being named team captain at the national trials.

Despite his painful shoulder injury, Hackett became the greatest medal-winner in world championships history (17) after winning three individual gold.

Arriving at last night’s awards with his arm in a sling, the Gold Coast swimmer was thrilled with his win and excited about a return to the pool.

“This is the icing on what has been a year of highs in Montreal and a year which has presented itself with yet another challenge,” said Hackett, who defeated Libby Lenton, Leisel Jones and Jessicah Schipper to the main prize.

“It is disappointing not to be swimming at next year’s Commonwealth Games but my surgery went well last week and doctors tell me I will be back in the water in no time and 2007 is not that far way.”

The form of Olympic relay gold medallist Lenton did not go unnoticed, winning the shortcourse, female sprint and female middle-distance swimmer of the year awards.

Triple crown caps Hackett’s big year

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He may have swum the entire year with a nagging shoulder injury that ultimately required surgery, but the achievements of Grant Hackett over the past 12 months were still sufficient to see the 25-year-old crowned Australian swimmer of the year last night in Sydney.

Hackett, who underwent shoulder surgery in Melbourne last week - and as a result will miss next year’s Commonwealth Games - collected a record five awards at the ceremony.

Apart from the major award, he also won the swimmers’ swimmer of the year award (voted on by members of the Australian team), the people’s choice swimmer of the year (voted on by the public), and the middle-distance and distance swimmer of the year.

Not only was his haul of five a record, but it’s the first time in the 16-year history of the awards that one athlete has collected the prestigious “triple crown” - the swimmer of the year, the swimmers’ swimmer and the people’s choice.

Despite his shoulder injury, Hackett had a tremendous 2005, winning three titles at the Montreal world championships - the 400 metres, 800m and 1500m - and breaking Ian Thorpe’s world record in the 800m final.

Hackett and Thorpe shared the swimmer of the year award in 2003, but last night was the first time Hackett had won it on his own, defeating three of Australia’s female world champions in Leisel Jones, Libby Lenton and Jessicah Schipper.

“This is the icing on what has been a year of highs in Montreal and a year which has presented itself with yet another challenge,” Hackett said. “The memories of Montreal were awesome - to captain the team and to achieve what I achieved in the pool was something I will never forget.

“To look up into the grandstand and see my Australian teammates all dressed in the green-and-gold war paint and to see the looks on the faces of my mum and dad … I’m going to cherish that forever.

“It is disappointing not to be swimming at next year’s Commonwealth Games but my surgery went well last week, and the doctor tells me I’ll be back in the water in no time and 2007 is not that far way.”

While Hackett may have pipped her as swimmer of the year, Lenton - who broke the 200m shortcourse world record at the World Cup on Saturday - still managed another big night, claiming three awards.

The 20-year-old was named shortcourse swimmer of the year, female sprint swimmer of the year and the female middle distance swimmer of the year.

Like Hackett, Lenton enjoyed stunning success in Montreal in July, winning gold in the 50m freestyle, the 4×100m medley and 4×100m freestyle relays.

The swimmer of the year with a disability went to world record-breaking Paralympic gold medallist Matthew Cowdrey, Denis Cotterell and Stephan Widmer shared the coach of the year award and Leisel Jones not only won the female breaststroker of the year, but her win the 100m breaststroke at the world championships was judged as the golden moment of the year.

Other winners included: Jade Edmistone and Leith Brodie (female and male discoveries of the year), Lara Carroll and Adam Lucas (medley swimmers), Michael Klim (male sprint freestyle swimmer), Jessicah Schipper (female butterfly swimmer), Giaan Rooney and Matt Welsh (backstroke swimmers), Trudee Hutchinson and Brendan Capell (open water swimmers), Haylee Reddaway (female distance freestyle swimmer), and Bronte Barratt and Andrew Lauterstein (youth swimmers).