Hackett to remain leader

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Australian head swimming coach Alan Thompson said the injured Grant Hackett would take on a role of non-playing captain at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

With Hackett allowed to undertake such a role, he will be allowed to fulfil his duties with sponsor Channel Seven, despite Channel Nine having the television rights to the Games.

Team rules prohibit exclusive individual sponsor or media commitments for competitors, but Hackett’s management and Thompson have reached an agreement on the matter during the week.

Thompson is delighted to retain the leadership of Hackett for the March event, citing the reigning Olympic 1500m gold medalist’s influence at the world championships in Montreal last year as an example of his importance to the team.

“I am very happy that Grant is able to continue on with us and maintain his position because I think he did a great job last year,” Thompson told AAP.

Hackett’s manager, Chris White, said he was still working out the finer details of the agreement as to exactly what Hackett’s schedule will be during the Games.

The champion swimmer has been training following last year’s shoulder surgery which forced him out of the Games, but is likely to be out of action for most of 2006.