No one was more surprised it seemed than Grant Hackett after the 34-year-old made a brilliant return to the pool, qualifying fourth fastest for the national 400m freestyle final in Sydney on Friday.
The dual Olympian took five seconds off his best time since returning six months ago after a six year break, clocking three minutes, 49.97 seconds - much to his astonishment.
"I turned around and saw that time and thought 'that is mind blowing'," Hackett said. "It's a bit out of control to be honest."
Hackett first broke the 3:50 barrier at the tender age of 17 at the 1998 Pan Pacs at Fukuoka. Almost 20 years later Hackett decided to return to the pool while watching from the stands at the last Pan Pacs on the Gold Coast last August.
"If you asked me back then at the Pan Pacs that I would be making a national final it would have been laughable," Hackett said. "I thought I was going to go 3:52. I can't believe I have gone sub 3:50 after six months and six years off - it's pretty crazy."
