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Australian Grant Hackett clocked the fastest 400m freestyle time in the world this year at his competitive comeback race six months after shoulder surgery.

The Olympic 1,500m champion’s 3:46.99, at the Brisbane round of the Australian Grand Prix circuit, marked the first sub 3:48 swim of the year. Japan’s Takeshi Matsuda clocked 3:48.08 last month, while Britain and Scotland’s David Carry won the Commonwealth title in 3:48.17 in March.

Hackett’s effort prompted the world record holder to predict that he had entered the most successful phase of his career. "e;I was a bit concerned this week wondering what it was going to feel like racing again and being away from it for so long,"e; he told the gathered media. ;I guess I’m a little bit ahead of where I thought I was at this stage. But in the middle part of the race I was probably going a little bit slower to make sure I had enough coming home."e;

Hackett’s last homecoming was faster than his world championship victory swim in Montreal 2005. "e;I really feel my best swims are yet to come,"e; said Hackett. "e;If I even thought about retirement right now I would regret it. And I don’t think even after Beijing can I see myself retiring. I can see myself going a couple of seasons after that then reassess what I want to do in life."e;

The repaired shoulder had "e;not been a concern"e;, he said. "e;The last time he (doctor) saw it (shoulder) was just before the Commonwealth Games and he told me not to come back - I said I won’t take it personally."e;

The Brisbane meet also saw Leisel Jones clock 1:06.29 over 100m breaststroke. "e;For me 1:06 now is what I am happy with, it’s fairly normal for me,"e; said Jones.