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Hackett: 1500m great
"London is still four years away, it's still a long time and I'm just going to take my time and have a break."
Leisel Jones.
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Australian swimming legend Grant Hackett could swim on to take part in the Commonwealth Games in India in 2010 according to head coach Alan Thompson, who is also hoping Libby Trickett and Leisel Jones do not make any hasty decision to quit the pool.
With Michael Phelps dominating the headlines in the Water Cube in Beijing, 1500m king Hackett agonisingly missed out on his own piece of Olympic history.
The 28-year-old world record holder was touched off by just 0.69 seconds by Oussama Mellouli as he just failed to become the first male swimmer to win the same event at three consecutive Olympics.
Hackett says that is now his lot in the Olympics and he will not be bidding to regain his crown in London 2012, but he could be persuaded to swim on for the Commonwealth Games in 2010, which will be held in Delhi.
"I talked to him (Hackett) on the bus going to a function last night and he hadn't made his mind up then," Australian head coach Thompson said at a press conference.
Goal
"Grant is certainly coming towards the end of his career, but he missed the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne with injury and I think that's a goal he has, but that's still two years away and that's a big decision to make.
"He'll have a rest now and he needs that rest and we'll wait for his decision.
"Grant found a new lease of life this year and he swum two of his best 1500ms since his world record (2001) and I think he knows he still has a bit of fight left in him."
Thompson was also keen to avoid any hasty decision being made by sprinter Libby Trickett and breaststroker Leisel Jones.
Both women won two gold medals in Beijing and Thompson hopes that they both wait for the dust to settle on the Olympics before making any decisions on their futures.
"This is a very emotional time here and one thing that we all know is that you try not to make major decisions in your life at times of extreme emotion and you need that time to reflect and walk away and then the decision will come whatever it takes," Thompson said.
Jones break
Jones won her first Olympic gold in the 100m breaststroke but lost the 200m gold and her world record to American Rebecca Soni.
Although 'Lethal Leisel' is keen to swim in London, she is looking forward to a long break from the pool after Beijing and could well decide to call it a day before 2012.
"London is still four years away, it's still a long time and I'm just going to take my time and have a break," Jones said.
"My coach (Rohan Taylor) said I can take as long as I need.
"It would be nice to continue on until London in 2012, we'll see, but I'm not closing any chapters.
"It would be nice to continue on and get that 200m world record back."
Trickett lost the 50m and 100m freestyle events and for now she is focused on remaining in swimming.
"It's hard and difficult at this time because all the emotions are still running so hot, but at this point I am still definitely in the sport," said Trickett.
"I have three months off now which I am really excited about.
"I am really looking forward to enjoying this time and enjoying the achievements and then all the thinking will come later, but at this point I still have a lot that I want to achieve in the sport."
