Rio Olympics 2016: Champion swimmer Grant Hackett’s advice to Kyle Chalmers after year of turmoil

AS Grant Hackett recovers from a year of drama, including missing Rio and a drunken midair incident, he’s got a warning for new champ Kyle Chalmers.

Grant Hackett says “life is pretty good” after a rocky ride this year. Picture: David Clark

GRANT Hackett is picking his life up once again after a year of dramatic ups and downs.

Hackett missed qualifying for the Rio Olympics, and then had a drunken mid air flight incident in April that derailed his chances of a Channel 7 commentary role.

The 36-year-old is working for the Al Jazeera network from Doha, Qatar, co-presenting and Olympics program that goes live two hours a day across the Middle East and Africa.

The Olympic champion, who confirmed he is also in a new relationship, said he is in a good place after all the drama.

“You have to be able to pick up and move on, otherwise you would live on a hill somewhere and become a hermit,” he said.

“It’s never easy and always challenging, as I’m a normal human being at the end of the day, but there are always eyes on me and I recognise that.

“At the end of the day I have to continue to work on myself and improve as a person, and now every thing feels good.

“I’ve been able to step forward from that.

“I’m just lucky to have great support from my family and great friends around me.”

Grant Hackett on the Al Jazeera set in Doha, Qatar, where he is co-hosting an Olympics program alongside Andy Kerr.

Grant Hackett slumps in a wheelchair after being removed from a flight from Adelaide to Melbourne following an altercation with a fellow passenger. Picture: Seven News

In April this year, Grant Hackett aimed to make a Rio comeback. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty

Hackett in the pool at Australia's world championship trials in Sydney during his comeback bid.

Hackett, who won three Olympic gold medals, said he was bursting in pride when he saw both Kyle Chalmers and Mack Horton win Olympic gold in the pool this week.

The only thing he said he finds disappointing about not being in Rio is being able to mentor the young swimmers, who he got to know well during his comeback efforts.

Hackett was 20 when he first won gold in the 1500 metres in the Sydney Olympics, and he understands the pressures of being in the public spotlight that comes for swimmers following winning a gold medal.

Hackett believes for Chalmers, 18, his life has changed forever.

“Life can change a lot for him now, and it is going to significantly and I think that’s going to be a real big test for him,” he said.

“I think the only advice I would give him, is make time for yourself and make sure you stay close to your family and your closest friends, and always be guided by them, because they always have your best interests.

“Because he will be pulled every which way.”

As for his future, Queensland based Hackett is finishing an applied finance masters degree and is in a new relationship with someone he doesn’t want to go public with yet.

“It’s really, really nice,” he said.

“I’m very lucky to have a supportive girlfriend, who is understanding about everything with what goes on in my life.

“Life is pretty good at the moment, I certainly don’t have any complaints.”

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Originally published as Rio Olympics 2016: Champion swimmer Grant Hackett’s advice to Kyle Chalmers after year of turmoil