GRANT Hackett has done plenty of difficult things in his life – swimming the fastest 1500m freestyle in history among them – but it is doubtful he has ever done anything as hard as he did last Thursday.

That was the day he told his coach of 21 years, Denis Cotterell, that he was leaving him to link with Ian Pope in Melbourne – and then broke the news to his squad mates at Miami pool.

“He spoke to me about lunchtime,” Cotterell said. “It was probably more emotional for him than it was for me. I’m more pragmatic. I’m a professional coach, that’s what I do. I move on and the time to reflect will come later.

“Talking to the rest of the squad was very hard for him. But he just held it together and spoke beautifully.

“Some of the kids, the younger ones in particular, were pretty moved by it.”

Hackett was close to tears several times during the afternoon but Cotterell said his decision was inevitable.

“He’s been burying it deep inside and it has been depressing him,” he said. “If I’d known how it was affecting him I would have suggested he make the decision sooner.

“He’s getting married soon, his life is changing, and the routine here has finally got him down. Boredom has been setting in; he’s been doing the same thing in the same place for 49 weeks of the year.

“The type of training we do is pretty relentless and ultimately that becomes monotonous. He’s been lacking spark and when you are at the top of a sport like he is you need every bit of edge you can get.”

Cotterell said Hackett was upset that he could not have the “perfect ending” with his long-time coach.

“I told him the fairytale ending was his, not mine,” he said. “I never had that ambition to be known as the coach of the kid who did this or that. My job is to bring kids through and hopefully they can represent Australia. Anything else is a bonus.”

Hackett and Cotterell helped each other to plenty of bonuses, including back-to-back Olympic 1500m titles, seven individual world championship titles and the fastest 1500m of all time, 14min34.56sec set in 2001.

Hackett will now be prepared for his attempt to become the first swimmer to win three Olympic 1500m titles by Pope, but Cotterell will not be turning his back.

“I’ve spoken to Ian and said if ever they need my help, I’m available,” he said. “Grant’s a great guy and our friendship is as strong as ever.”