Police question Hackett at Melb airport

Australian swimming great Grant Hackett has been spoken to by Australian Federal Police after an alleged mid-flight incident.

Grant Hackett

Grant Hackett Source: AAP

Grant Hackett's role as a mentor to the Olympic swim team could be in jeopardy following an alleged altercation on an airline flight.

Australian Federal Police questioned the swimming great at Melbourne airport on Sunday after being requested to attend an arrival gate.

The three-time Olympic gold medallist, who missed out on qualifying for the Rio Games nine days ago, was reportedly involved in an altercation with a fellow passenger on a flight out of Adelaide.

Seven News reported police sources as saying that during the flight Hackett "went to the toilet for an extended period, taking a bag with him. He emerged aggressive and agitated, taking offence to a male business class passenger who reclined his seat."

Hackett had reportedly yelled abuse and grabbed the man on the chest before crew restrained him and radioed ahead to Federal Police.

Seven reported that Collingwood AFL club CEO Gary Pert helped Hackett off the plane.

The AFP said: "A 35-year-old man was spoken to, however at this time no charges have been laid. Enquiries in relation to this matter are continuing."

No charges have been laid.

Hackett, who was intending to travel on to the Gold Coast, had been a guest speaker at an Adelaide Crows function on Saturday night.

He had also worked as a guest commentator for the Seven Network at the Olympic trials in Adelaide after his own events wrapped up and it's believed he's been in talks about doing commentary for the network at the Rio Games.

Following his recent unsuccessful bid for Olympic qualification, Australian swimming coach Jacco Verhaeren said Hackett would be used as a team mentor.

"We love the guy and love him on the team," Verhaeren said.

"He is the same legend he ever was. "Moving forward we will use him as mentor - he can't get rid of us."

It is unclear whether that role as a mentor will continue.

Swimming Australia (SA) was still deciding whether to issue a statement about the alleged incident but SA president John Bertrand told Seven that the swimming body would wait to see what facts emerged.

Hackett's management company told SA it would not be making any comment on the alleged incident at the moment.

Hackett came out of retirement hoping to become the oldest swimmer to make an Australian Olympic team, seeking a spot on the 4x200m freestyle relay squad and hung up his goggles for good when he failed to qualify.

Sunday's alleged incident was the latest in a private life marred by turbulence following his first retirement after the Beijing Olympics, where he took silver when seeking a third straight 1500m freestyle gold medal.

In late 2011, it was reported that furniture had been damaged in the Melbourne apartment he shared with former wife Candice Alley.

The couple divorced in 2012.

Hackett also spent several weeks in a US rehabilitation centre for treatment for addiction to the sleeping pill Stilnox and soon after began his return to the pool.

The rehab stint came after he was photographed partially dressed in the early hours of the morning at Melbourne's Crown Hotel, searching for his then four-year-old son.


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Source: AAP



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