Hackett plea to IOC over open-water race

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OLYMPIC champion Grant Hackett has asked the International Olympic Committee to schedule the new 10-kilometre open-water swim in the second week of the 2008 Olympic Games so that distance pool swimmers could compete.

The two-time Olympic 1500 metres freestyle gold medallist has welcomed the addition of the endurance swim and said he was keen to contest the race in Beijing.

“I would love to compete in the 10-kilometre if it is in the second week (of the Olympic program),” said Hackett. “It is certainly just another challenge to add to my program.”

Hackett believes he wouldn’t be the only distance pool swimmer keen to contest the open-water race, but said he would only consider racing if the event was scheduled in the second week of the Olympic program, after the entire pool competition was completed. He had put his request to the International Olympic Committee and FINA, the swimming body.

“… a lot of 1500-metre swimmers around the world would love to compete in an open-water race,” he said. “With the current program, every (swimmer) has got two events at Olympic level except distance swimmers.

“Distance swimmers have only one opportunity to compete and show their skills and their hard efforts put in to prepare for endurance races.

“It would be in the best interest for the IOC and FINA to put the race in the second week and allow endurance swimmers of the pool an opportunity to compete.”

With a history-making third consecutive gold medal beckoning at Beijing, and a long-held desire to dethrone Ian Thorpe over 400 metres, the Gold Coast swimmer said he would not jeopardise his pool commitments to chase the first Olympic open-water gold.

“I would not do anything to sacrifice my 1500, 400, 200 or the 4 x 200 relay races or any pool events for that matter,” said Hackett. “I would just keep my focus on the 1500 and hope it is enough to cover the distance that is required to be at the fast end of the pace.”

Hackett, a decorated junior surf lifesaver, said: “I give full credit to the guys there now; they are very competitive and way more experienced than me. I do a fair bit of endurance work training, but I would still have to qualify top two, or whatever the criteria will be, and even if I go and compete, just to earn that (Olympic spot) is a great challenge in itself.

“There is no doubt in a field like that I have probably got more speed, but still I have got to get through 9.9 kilometres of endurance and still be able to do that sprint.

“If it is a sprint finish and I can harness that speed, it is helpful.”