Dual Olympic champion says he’ll swim till he’s 30

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Dual Olympic 1500-metre freestyle gold medallist Grant Hackett said on Wednesday he was keen to keep competing until he hits 30 and may even try for four straight victories at the Games.

But the 24-year-old distance swimmer, who is aiming for a third straight gold medal at Beijing in 2008, conceded it would be difficult to sustain his dominance of 1500-metres and may have to consider shorter races such as the 200 and 400 metres if he was to achieve his goal.

“Probably around 30 … I will be contemplating it (retirement),” he said at the Queensland state championships Wednesday.

“There will be no deadline about when it will be but (30), give or take a bit, you never know.

“I’m not sure if my focus will be on the 15 (1500-metres) after 2008, I might want to try and focus on the two and four and see how well I can go there.”

Hackett maintained he was as hungry as ever — particularly due to the challenge presented by American Larsen Jensen and Briton David Davies in the 1500-metres — and was primed for another concerted four-year build-up to Beijing.

“My motivation feels no different now as it did before the Olympics,” he said.

“I train every bit as hard and put everything I can, make the same sacrifices and still have the intention to improve all the way to the end of my career.”