Grant Hackett is “Captain Fantastic” as he had been dubbed by the media. At the 2005 FINA World Championships in Montreal he achieved the magnificent feat of Gold in the 400m, 800m and 1500m Freestyle events breaking the World Record in the 800m along the way. He also took home a Silver in the 200m Freestyle and Bronze in the 4 x 200m Relay. This haul of Medals and acheivements earned Grant the Male Swimmer of the Meet Award.

In 2005, Grant also won the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m Freestyle events at the 2005 Telstra Australian Championships. Not only did Grant become the first person since 1984 to win 4 x Freestyle events at one Meet, he became the fastest man to swim the 1500m Freestyle on Australian soil in a time of 14.44.94. To top off this fantastic list of achievements, Grant received the tremendous honour of being named Team Captain of the Telstra Dolphins, the Australian Swimming Team.

Memorable swims also include the 2004 Athens Olymic Games where Grant swam with a collapsed lung to take Gold in an emotional 1500m Freestyle. Grant’s other achievements in Athens included 2 x Silver Medals, won in the 400m Free and 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay.

The 2001 FINA World Championships in Fukuoka Japan was a Meet be noted in the history books. Grant annihilated Kieran Perkins' 7 year record by a massive 7.01 seconds. Continuing his outstanding form at the 2001 Australian Short Course Championships in Perth later that year, Grant went on to smash the 800m and 1500m Freestyle World Records. He broke both records by over 9 seconds! A tremendous amount in swimming terms.

Due to a niggling shoulder injury, which culminated in surgery, Grant was forced to miss the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. He worked hard to rehabilitate and returned to competition at the 2006 Telstra World Championship Trials convincingly defending his 400m, 800m and 1500m Freestyle Australian titles.

The 2007 FINA World Championships was Grant’s first international meet following his shoulder surgery. Vocal about his lack of preparation and fitness, Grant courageously took Bronze in the 400m Freestyle. It came as a shock to the swimming world when Grant’s stranglehold on the 1500m Freestyle ended. Despite knowing he would swim badly, the Dolphins’ Captain showed his mettle by swimming regardless. As a role model to children worldwide, Grant showed that winning isn’t everything, it’s the effort you put in that really matters.

The Beijing Olympics are in August 2008. Grant’s performances at the World Championships have done nothing but give him the steely determination to come back better than ever. With the chance to become the first man in history to win three successive 1500m Olympic titles you can be assured we are yet to see the best of Grant Hackett.