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.”