He is one of Australia's great Olympians.
And swimming champ Grant Hackett has confessed that it was his dedication to his sport that led him to turn down two invitations to meet Queen Elizabeth II.
Hackett, 44, who won gold for the Aussie Team three times, said he now regrets missing the opportunity to meet the late monarch when he was at the peak of his career.
'There's a lot of distractions that do come in to it, and you've got to be disciplined around that,' he said during an appearance on 2DAY FM's Hughesy, Ed & Erin show on Thursday.
'I found that that in my years in sport [you can] 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 said.
'One of them was the preparation for the Olympics, and I said ''no''.' I kinda regret it now.'
Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022 on September 22 at age 96.
Swimming champ Grant Hackett has confessed that it was his dedication to his sport that led him to turn down two invitations to meet Queen Elizabeth II. Pictured: Grant Hackett in 2022
Hackett said during an appearance on 2DAY FM's Hughesy, Ed & Erin show on Thursday that one invite from the palace came when he was in training for the Olympics - so he turned it down. Pictured: QEII in 2022. The beloved monarch died later that year at age 96
Hackett wowed fans after winning the 1500 metres freestyle at the Sydney Summer Olympics in 2000.
He repeated the astonishing feat again in the same event in Athens in 2004.
The proud Queenslander ended his Olympic career with impressive seven medals including three gold, three silver and one bronze.
Currently on air as a commentator for streaming giant Stan's Olympic coverage Hackett has until been keeping a low profile.
But last month the swimming legend made a rare public appearance when he was seen with wife Sharlene and three of his children in Melbourne.
The low profile comes after having been in the public eye post-retirement due to his messy split with his ex-wife, Candice Alley, which was followed by four meltdowns in six years.
Pictured: Hackett and Kieren Perkins at the Sydney Olympics in 2000
The couple have two children together, Edward, 4, and newborn Olympia, while Grant has twins Jagger and Charlize, 16, from his first marriage to singer Candice.
And on Monday, Grant and Sharlene were spotted in the luxurious Melbourne suburb of Brighton with Edward, Olympia and Jagger, seemingly enjoying a nice day out together on the affluent Church Street.
The family have settled into life in Victoria having moved from Grant's native Gold Coast last year.
After they tied the knot four years ago, Grant made a gushing tribute to his bride.
He wrote at length: 'I feel so blessed to call you my beautiful wife @sharhackett. With a year that's been filled with so much uncertainty it's been such a perfect way to finish off 2020.
'With COVID-19 continuing to delay our nuptials and the ability to properly plan our wedding, with all of our friends and family in the one location both locally and from overseas, Sharlene and I just wanted to say 'I do'!'
Grant and Sharlene announced their engagement in October 2019.
Hackett is pictured with his wife Sharlene Fletcher
In July 2019, Grant announced he and his then-girlfriend were expecting a baby, in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph.
'I felt I was going to hit 40 and I wanted another opportunity as a dad,' he said.
'I knew I wanted more children but only with a committed person who was going to be a life partner.'
Grant and Sharlene welcomed their baby boy Edward Anthony Hackett in January 2020.
Sharlene met Grant on the Gold Coast in 2015, and began dating in August 2018.
The athlete has described his relationship with Sharlene as 'incredible' and said the desserts chef is a good influence on him.
