Grant Hackette Australian best swimmer

Australian swimmer Grant Hackett

• He is an Australian swimmer
• He won 1500metres freestyle at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics
• He is regarded as one the greatest swimmers in history

Who is Grant Hackett?

Hackett is an Australian swimmer most famous for winning the men’s 1500 meters freestyle race at both the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and the 2004 Summer Olympics held in Athens.

This achievement made him to be regarded as one of the greatest distance swimmers in history.

Grant Hackett Biography

Net Worth

Grant Hackett’s net worth in 2023 is about $ 5 million from his successful swimming profession.

He also earns from endorsements as he is a brand ambassador with several companies like Kumho Tyres. The earnings from the endorsements have also played a role in the increment in his net worth.

Personal Life

Hackett was born on May 9, 1980, in Southport, Queensland in Australia to Neville Hackett and Margaret Hackett and has a brother Craig Hackett his father is a controversial champion swimmer.

Born in Australia, Hackett began swimming at the pool at a very tender age and so far he has won five gold medals in the Olympics.

Initially, he had an early interest in rugby union but later chose to concentrate on swimming instead and had his first medal at nine years.

He began his professional career when he became the youngest male swimmer to represent Australia at an Olympic Games in Atlanta where he won two silver medals and one bronze medal.

His younger sister has also competed for Australia at two Olympics. The swimmer is also a very good coach for young swimmers.

However, his career has not been all smooth as he had a shoulder surgery that pulled him out of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. The same year, he began having back problems, being diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma.

Grant Hackett. Photo/Herald Sun

A natural leader, Grant was voted the first and only Australian Swimming Team Captain. His success has extended well beyond the pool and is extremely articulate with a great work ethic.

Grant has held the position of Head of Priority Markets for Westpac and TV presenter for Channel Nine. He has a diploma in Financial Services and also undertook an Executive MBA, currently, he is the CEO of Generation Life.

He has several endorsements that generate income for him. He is an ambassador for Westpac, Uncle Toby’s Mitre and Kumho Tyres, also involved with community groups, Preston James Research Fund and Surf Life Saving Foundation.

Grant Hackett’s marriage and divorce

Grant was married to Candice Alley a singer/actress and they were blessed with two children Charlize and Jagger twins to be precise. However, things fell apart between them and they divorced.

The divorce affected the swimmer and he ended up consoling himself with alcohol and depression followed. Things took a bad turn and had to be rehabilitated after a violent altercation at his parent’s home.

Grant’s major fear is that his children will google his name on the internet when they get of age and will read about his negative side. However, he found love again and is now married.

Career

Hackett became prominent on a debut at the Pan Pacific Championships where he won the 1500m and 400m freestyle in international long course competition.

He again won in the following year’s World Championships in the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur breaking the world’s record of 200m freestyle. He entered the Sydney Summer Olympics 2000 winning the 1500 m race.

At the 2001 World Championships in Fukuoka, he broke the record by seven seconds claiming gold. Two years later, he picked up five medals three gold, one silver and a bronze in the 200, 400, 800 and 1500m freestyle events in an international meet.

Grant Hackett. Photo/9News

Summer Olympics 2004 in Athens were held and he came third after swimming with one of his lungs partially collapsed, leaving his total lung capacity diminished by a quarter. Three years later he won his first national championship 10 km open water race.

The following year, he swam the 400m and 1500m finishing second and he won a silver medal. After six and a half years of racing in a major competition, Hackett finished fourth in the 200m freestyle, qualifying for the 4x200m freestyle relay for the 2015 World Aquatics Championships.

At the Championships, he won a bronze medal for swimming in the 4x200m freestyle relay. This became his first international medal since the 2008 Olympics.