Performance of the Week: Grant Hackett Makes Successful Comeback

Photo Courtesy: Swimming Australia

Comebacks are nothing new to competitive swimming. Some succeed. Some fail. Count Grant Hackett’s return to the pool as a rousing success after his performances last weekend at the Australian nationals.

In the six years since Hackett last stepped up to the starting blocks, a new generation of freestylers have risen in the ranks. Mack Horton, Cameron McEvoy and David McKeon are just three of the athletes that have taken the mantle passed on by Hackett since he won silver in the 1500 freestyle at the 2008 Olympics.

Being out of the pool for six years was, on the surface, a major handicap for Hackett. So was being 34 years old, still an advanced age in distance swimming. But after placing third in the 400 free in Sydney last week, all doubts were washed away. Any nonbelievers that remained after that race were converted to Hackett fans when he finished fourth in the 200 free, putting him on Australia’s world championship squad. This will mark his sixth appearance at the long course world championships, and he will be looking to win his 19th world championship medal. With Australia ranking its top four 200 freestylers in the top six in the world right now, the odds look good for Hackett to not only earn another medal, but become the oldest male to win a swimming medal at the world championships.

Hackett’s time of 1:46.84 isn’t too far off his lifetime best of 1:45.61, which he swam in 2004. His coach, Denis Cotterell, has implied that Hackett can – and will – be faster, which bodes well for Australia this year, and possibly at the Olympics.

Though he won’t be racing his global successors in the 1500 free at worlds this summer, it will still be exciting to see Hackett wearing the Green and Gold again. And though he doesn’t want to call it a comeback, Hackett should proudly describe his return to the pool as such, because he has come back in a big way.

Congratulations, Grant Hackett, you’ve won the Performance of the Week!

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Van DO

9 years ago

Yes !!!

Julie Lee

9 years ago

Feel good story of the week in my books!