He is one of Australia’s great Olympic athletes.
And swimming champion Grant Hackett has revealed it was his dedication to his sport that led him to turn down two invitations to meet Queen Elizabeth II.
Hackett, 44, who won gold for the Australian team three times, said he now regrets missing the chance to meet the late monarch when he was at the peak of his career.
“There are a lot of distractions that come up and you have to be disciplined about them,” he said during an appearance on 2DAY FM. Hughesy, Ed and Erin show on Thursday.
‘I discovered in my years in sports that (one can) be distracted.
“I was asked to meet the Queen twice. I didn’t do either because I had to fly to meet her,” he said.
“One of them was preparing for the Olympics and I said no. Now I regret it a little.”
Queen Elizabeth II died on September 22, 2022 at the age of 96.
Swimming champion Grant Hackett has revealed that it was his dedication to his sport that led him to turn down two invitations to meet Queen Elizabeth II. Pictured: Grant Hackett in 2022
Hackett said during an appearance on 2DAY FM’s Hughesy, Ed & Erin show on Thursday that an invitation from the palace came when she was training for the Olympics, so she turned it down. Pictured: QEII in 2022. The beloved monarch died later that year aged 96.
Hackett shocked fans after winning the 1500-meter freestyle at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics.
He repeated the amazing feat again at the same event in Athens in 2004.
The proud Queensland athlete finished his Olympic career with an impressive seven medals, including three gold, three silver and one bronze.
Currently on air as a commentator for streaming giant Stan’s Olympic coverage, Hackett has so far kept a low profile.
But last month the swimming legend made a rare public appearance when he was spotted with his wife Sharlene and three of their children in Melbourne.
The low profile comes after he was in the public eye following his retirement due to his messy split from his ex-wife, Candice Alley, which was followed by four nervous breakdowns in six years.
Grant moved on and married his second wife, Sharlene, in an intimate, secret ceremony in Melbourne in December 2020.
Pictured: Hackett and Kieren Perkins at the 2000 Sydney Olympics
The couple have two children together, Edward, 4, and newborn daughter Olympia, while Grant has twins Jagger and Charlize, 16, from his first marriage to singer Candice.
And on Monday, Grant and Sharlene were spotted in the plush Melbourne suburb of Brighton with Edward, Olympia and Jagger apparently enjoying a lovely day out together on opulent Church Street.
The family has settled into life in Victoria after moving from Grant’s hometown of the Gold Coast last year.
After tying the knot four years ago, Grant paid a glowing tribute to his bride.
He wrote at length: ‘I feel so blessed to be able to call you my beautiful wife @sharhackett. With a year filled with so much uncertainty, it’s been a perfect way to end 2020.
‘With COVID-19 continuing to delay our nuptials and the ability to properly plan our wedding, with all of our friends and family in one place, both local and overseas, Sharlene and I just wanted to say ‘I do!’
Grant and Sharlene announced their engagement in October 2019.
Hackett is pictured with his wife Sharlene Fletcher
In July 2019, Grant announced that he and his then-girlfriend were expecting a baby, in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph.
“I felt like I was turning 40 and I wanted another chance at being a father,” he said.
‘I knew I wanted to have more children, but only with a committed person who would be my life partner.’
Grant and Sharlene welcomed their baby boy Edward Anthony Hackett in January 2020.
Sharlene met Grant on the Gold Coast in 2015 and they began dating in August 2018.
The athlete has described his relationship with Sharlene as “amazing” and said the dessert chef is a good influence on him.