Grant Hackett Professional swimmer, participant of the 2008 Olympics Date of Birth: 09.05.1980 Country: Australia

Biography of Grant Hackett

Grant Hackett, a professional swimmer and member of the Australian national team, was born on May 9, 1980, in Australia. He grew up in Southport, where his father was a police officer and his mother was a homemaker.

In 1997, Hackett made his debut at the Pan Pacific Championships, where he achieved a brilliant victory in the 1500-meter freestyle event. He also showed promising results in the 400-meter freestyle. The following year, he participated in the World Championships and once again became the champion. However, he was surpassed by his compatriot Ian Thorpe in the 400-meter freestyle event. Hackett achieved great success when he teamed up with Michael Klim, Ian Thorpe, and Daniel Kowalski to win the 4x200-meter freestyle relay.

From 1997 to 2007, Hackett dominated the 1500-meter freestyle event, winning gold medals at the World Championships, Pan Pacific Championships, Commonwealth Games, and Australian Championships. In 1999, he set his first world record, surpassing Giorgio Lamberti's time in the 200-meter freestyle. However, his record was later broken by Ian Thorpe at the 1999 Pan Pacific Championships in Sydney.

In 2000, Hackett competed in the Olympic Games as a favorite in the 1500-meter freestyle event. Unfortunately, he failed to secure a podium finish due to illness. Despite this setback, Hackett remained one of the most famous and popular Australian swimmers.

In 2001, Hackett showcased his maximum speed at the World Championships, setting records in the 800-meter and 400-meter freestyle events. His career continued to soar as he consistently won championships and established himself as one of the fastest swimmers in the world.

In 2008, Hackett participated in the Olympic Games in Beijing. Although he did not qualify for the 10,000-meter event, he performed well in the 400-meter and 1500-meter freestyle events.

In April 2007, Grant Hackett married singer Candice Alley. He graduated from Bond University with a degree in commerce and law.