Aussie star who twice refused to meet the Queen

“I said no”: One very well-known Aussie confessed on-air today that he refused a meeting with Queen Elizabeth – not once, but twice.

One very well-known Aussie confessed on-air today that he refused a meeting with Queen Elizabeth – not once, but twice.

Olympic swimming champion Grant Hackett was a guest on 2DAY FM’s Hughesy, Ed & Erin show this morning, where he revealed that he was so committed to his Olympic training during his career that he turned down multiple opportunities for a royal encounter.

The seven-time Olympic medallist, 44, was on the show to talk all things Olympics with the Paris Games well underway this week.

Sorry Lizzy, you’ve got to stay focused if you want to win gold.

One is not amused. AFP

Speaking about the discipline and focus required of Olympic athletes, Hackett reflected on his own career.

“There’s a lot of distractions that do come in, and you’ve got to be disciplined. As soon as you get sidetracked … I got asked to meet the Queen twice! I didn’t do either of them, because I had to fly to meet her,” he explained.

“One of them was the preparation for the Olympics, and I said no. I kinda regret it now.”

No wonder – Queen Elizabeth died in September 2022, aged 96.

Meanwhile, Hackett had his fourth child and second with wife Sharlene in August last year. He also has two children with his first wife, Australian singer Candice Alley.

His newborn daughter’s name seemed to indicate his ongoing dedication to all things Olympics: Olympia Grace.

But in an interview on Channel 7’s The Morning Show two months after Olympia’s birth, Hackett insisted his daughter’s name was not a tribute to his beloved Games.

Hackett last year with his youngest child, baby Olympia. Picture: Instagram

Hackett confessed he had second thoughts about the name.

“It is quite funny because I almost didn’t name her (Olympia) because of that. We actually really like the name. So Sharlene and I were watching a movie, it was actually a Sandra Bullock movie, and there was a strong little girl in there named Olympia,” he told host Larry Emdur.

“We actually liked the name Grace, initially, and we were talking and she goes, ‘Why don’t we just call her Olympia Grace?’ And I thought, ‘That sounds awesome’.

“It was nothing to do my Olympic career, it was purely because we love the name. We call her little baby Oly but she is absolutely wonderful and already trying to talk and sit up and do all of those great things.”