SYDNEY: Dual Olympic champion Grant Hackett finished third in the 400-metres freestyle final in his comeback swim after seven years out of the pool at Australia’s world championship trials in Sydney on Friday.

The 34-year-old, in his first major meet since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, clocked three minutes, 46.53 seconds to finish with the bronze medal behind Mack Horton (3:42.84) and defending champion David McKeon (3:44.28).

Hackett surprised everyone including himself when he qualified fourth-fastest for the final, shaving five seconds off his best time since returning to the pool six months ago.

Based on Friday’s swim, he is considered to have a strong chance of a top-six 200m freestyle finish and, as a result, a relay berth for this year’s world championships in Kazan, Russia.

“I can’t believe I can do that after six months,” Hackett told reporters after narrowly missing out on qualifying for the event at the worlds.

“Maybe I am a bit older and stronger. Who knows what I can do in another six months?

“Everything is a bonus,” he said.

“I have nothing to prove in the sport. I have won Olympic gold medals, broken world records — I can’t do anything else. “I just want to see how fast my old body can swim.”

London Olympian Jessica Ashwood (4:05.58) won the women’s 400m freestyle, beating out Leah Neale (4:06.84).

Results:

Men’s:

400m freestyle: 1. Mack Horton 3 minutes 42.84 seconds, 2. David McKeon 3:44.28, 3. Grant Hackett 3:46.53.

Women’s:

400m freestyle: 1. Jessica Ashwood 4:05.58, 2. Leah Neale 4:06.84, 3. Tamsin Cook 4:07.14.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2015

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