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The End Of Thorpe And Hackett?

Jul 20, 2009  - Craig Lord

Will the names Grant Hackett and Ian Thorpe disappear from the world-record books in Rome? Thorpe this week described his 3:40.08 400m free from 2002 as "just a time", while Hackett, holder of the 1,500m free standard at 14:34.56, believes his own standards (he holds the 800m world record as well) will come under serious threat. 

"The one thing you can be sure of at the world swimming championships in Rome is that more world records will be broken. Sadly, plenty of them," Hackett wrote on an Australian TV website that he works for. "It's no secret that swimmers are moving faster thanks to the new high-tech suits they're wearing and given FINA's dubious decision to allow them in competition, manufacturers have embarked on a mini arms race.

"In long-course swimming, there are now just four world records across all strokes and distances that haven't been broken with the aid of the new technology.

"Two (800m and 1500m freestyle) are mine, one is Ian Thorpe's (400m freestyle) and the other belongs to Dutch sensation Inge de Bruijin (100m butterfly).

"Don't be surprised if all four fall in Rome. The question will be who, or what, deserves the recognition: swimmer or swimsuit? In times past when someone broke a record, everyone stood up around the world and applauded. These days, no-one blinks an eyelid and it really is soul destroying for the sport."

Hackett's trepidation is shared by Britain's David Davies, Olympic bronze medal winner over 1,500m in 2004 and silver medallist in the inaugural 10km in 2008. He will be in the race in Rome at the end of a week in which he will race the 400m and 800m and the 4x200m. 

Favourite for the world title and to take Hackett's time is Tunisia's Oussama Mellouli, the Olympic champion who touch a hand ahead in Beijing to prevent Hackett from becoming the first man to win the same swimming title at a third successive Games.

Mellouli, stripped of his gold and silver medals at the 2007 event in Melbourne after failing a drugs test, has swum very fast times all year at various meets while wearing a Jaked01.

Davies thinks Hackett's standard could fall in Rome but says: "It would be kind of sad, with the suit saga there would always be that cloud over it. I think it is the best world record on the books.

"It was phenomenal swimming. Especially at the time when only 10 guys ad been under 15 minutes and only three guys were under 14:50 and he has gone 14.34 all on his own. Absolutely amazing swim. But the amount of guys now bunched up they are bound to push each other on."

Davies favours a return to briefs and says that current performance-enhancing suits are significant even in a 1,500m. With 29 turns, he says, "it is definitely going to add up and give you an aid".