Grant Hackett scandal: How many chances should one man get?

SURELY the latest revelations involving former Olympian Grant Hackett should end his chance of getting a Rio Olympics reporting gig, writes Susie O’Brien

How many chances should one man get?

• Hackett ‘out of control’ in nasty plane row
• Pert: ‘Clearly Grant was having some issues’
• Robert Craddock: Rise and fall: Hackett’s road to destruction

HOW many chances should one man get?

Surely the latest revelations involving former Olympian Grant Hackett should definitively end his chance of getting a gig reporting on the Rio Olympics for Channel Seven.

It’s being reported Hackett became abusive on a flight from Adelaide to Melbourne when the man in front of him in business class reclined his seat.

Although at the time of writing no charges had been laid, it’s not the first time Hackett has been accused of unacceptable violence.

While others have been celebrating Hackett’s recent return to the pool, and apparent return to favour as a sporting commentator, I can’t forget his violent past.

In my eyes Hackett is not a sporting hero or a legend. He is a flawed human being who left his wife and children cowering in fear when he turned their home upside down back in 2011.

Grant Hackett. Picture: Glenn Hampson

This latest incident is a further reason why he should not be a part of Channel Seven’s Olympics team, or any network’s team, for that matter.

He also should not be a mentor for the Australian Olympic swimming team.

It doesn’t matter how good Hackett used to be in the pool. It doesn’t matter that he came close to being one of the oldest swimming Olympians last week.

What matters is that he has a violent streak, which was allegedly on display once again last weekend.

Let’s stop separating the swimming “legend” from the flawed human being he is out of the pool.

And let’s stop blindly worshipping violent men and continuing to reward them with plum jobs in the spotlight.

@susieob

[e-mail]