Grant Hackett has said that his world championship preparation is still full steam ahead despite a remanifestation of the shoulder problem that caused him to miss the Commonwealth Games last year. Hackett said the pain in his right shoulder had returned but he did not need more surgery to correct the problem, rather it was a case of managing the injury properly.

“It has been a little bit sore for me, just with the increased work load,” Hackett told the Gold Coast Bulletin. “There is no reason why I can’t train as well, as hard and as long as I have done in the past — as long as I do everything correctly and work with the right people. At this stage, with the sort of injury that it is and what I have had, as long as I do everything correctly there shouldn’t be any problems. It is not like my shoulder is hanging off the side of my body, it is not like there is a big tear there.”

Hackett had an MRI scan on his troublesome right shoulder two weeks ago, which revealed abnormal swelling in the joint. Physiotherapy sessions and cortisone injections have helped bring the injury under control, but one has to wonder about the wear and tear occuring daily to Hackett and if he can truly ever get back to where he once was.

While Hackett is not concerned about the little aches and pains that he has, the internal bruising within the shoulder that he has talked about cannot be good for his swimming. Hackett still claims that his shoulder is in the best shape it has been in in years, but as a fan of his ability, I am concerned that he may be brushing aside an issue that could become a hindrance if not taken care of and watched closely.

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