Grant Hackett is resigned to missing Australia's 4x200m freestyle relay gold medal tilt at the world swimming championships after his comeback heats performance.
But Hackett is still focused on his Rio Olympic dream after the hard marker looked impressive as Australia qualified fastest for Friday night's final in Kazan, Russia.
A tough call on the relay line-up looms for head coach Jacco Verhaeren, with 35-year-old Hackett appearing to be competing for the final place on the team with David McKeon.
At his first world titles since 2007, the dual Olympic champion led off in one minute, 47.83 seconds as Australia (7:08.40) topped the timesheets for the final.
Hackett was happy with his time but did not believe it would be good enough to join Cameron McEvoy, Thomas Fraser-Holmes and the team's feel good story Daniel Smith in the final.
"I am not 100 per cent but I am pretty confident (that is not fast enough)," Hackett said.
"But that's a good heat swim for me. It would be nice to have a swim tonight."
Hackett had been seen as the man to bring the 4x200m relay team back to their glory days after Australia did not qualify for the 2013 world titles final.
Hackett helped Australia win three straight world 4x200m relay titles from 1998 before retiring after the 2008 Olympics.
"To be in the final is huge. It is a big step forward from last time," said Hackett, who made his comeback at April's national trials after six months training.
"The 4x200m team has made huge progress as you can see from the heats swim and we just want to continue that."
Hackett said even if he did not make the final cut in Kazan he was still focused on Rio.
"Either way nothing changes for me," he said.
"I am enjoying the experience. I loved racing this morning and I want to do some more of it."
Hackett is not the only comeback story of the 4x200m relay team.
Smith, 24, produced a world class 1:46.02 split in the relay heat's third leg at his first major long course meet since his 2014 return to the pool after a troubled past.
Former child swimming prodigy Smith battled a five-year drug addiction and at one stage was homeless on the Gold Coast before turning his life around under coach Denis Cotterell.
"I am so happy. I am speechless," said Smith who made the world short course 200m freestyle final last year.
Four-time defending champions the United States (7:08.55) were second fastest.
Third fastest Great Britain (7:09.00) will inject reigning world 200m champion James Guy into the final.
HOW AUSSIES FARED IN HEATS ON DAY SIX OF THE WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN KAZAN, RUSSIA
Men's 50m freestyle
- Matt Abood (22.28 seconds), 11th fastest for semi-finals
Women's 50m butterfly
- Emma McKeon (26.79), equal 21st fastest, misses semi-finals
- Brianna Throssell (26.90), 26th fastest, misses semi-finals
Men's 100m butterfly
- Jayden Hadler (52.17), 14th fastest for semi-finals
- Tommaso D'Orsogna (52.22) 15th fastest for semi-finals
Women's 200m backstroke
- Emily Seebohm (2:09.44) seventh fastest for semi-finals
- Hayley Baker (2:11.63) 17th fastest, misses semi-finals
Men's 4x200m freestyle relay
- Australia's Grant Hackett, Kurt Herzog, Daniel Smith, Thomas Fraser-Holmes (7:08.40) fastest qualifier for final
Women's 800m freestyle
- Jess Ashwood (8:22.17) second fastest for final
- Leah Neale (8:44.38) 26th fastest, misses final
Australians in day six finals:
- Mitch Larkin (200m backstroke), Cate and Bronte Campbell (100m freestyle), men's 4x200m freestyle relay.
Share
