Australian swimming champion Grant Hackett reveals why he refused to meet Queen Elizabeth – twice

He is one of Australia’s greatest Olympic athletes.

And swimming champion Grant Hackett has admitted it was his dedication to his sport that led to him turning down two invitations to meet Queen Elizabeth II.

Hackett, 44, who won three golds for the Australian team, says he now regrets missing the chance to meet the late monarch when he was at the height of his career.

“There are a lot of distractions that come with it, and you have to be disciplined about it,” he said during an appearance on 2DAY FM Hughesy, Ed and Erin performance on Thursday.

‘I have discovered that in my years in the sport [you can] get distracted.

“I was asked to meet the Queen twice! I didn’t do either time because I had to fly to meet her,” he said.

“One of them was preparing for the Olympics, and I said ‘no’. I kind of regret that now.”

Queen Elizabeth II died on September 22, 2022 at the age of 96.

Hackett said during an appearance on 2DAY FM’s Hughesy, Ed & Erin show on Thursday that an invitation from the palace came while he was training for the Olympics – so he turned it down. Pictured: QEII in 2022. The beloved monarch died later that year at the age of 96

Hackett impressed fans after winning the 1500-meter freestyle at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

He repeated this astonishing feat again at the same event in Athens in 2004.

The proud Queenslander ended his Olympic career with an impressive seven medals, including three gold, three silver and one bronze.

Hackett is currently seen as a commentator for streaming giant Stan’s Olympic coverage, but has kept a low profile until now.

But last month the swimming legend came made an exceptional public appearance when he was spotted in Melbourne with his wife Sharlene and three of their children.

The actor has only come into the public eye since his retirement following a messy split from his ex-wife, Candice Alley, which was followed by four breakdowns in six years.

Grant went on to secretly and intimately marry his second wife, Sharlene, in Melbourne in December 2020.

Pictured: Hackett and Kieren Perkins at the 2000 Sydney Olympics

The couple have two children together: Edward, 4, and newborn Olympia, while Grant has twins from his first marriage to singer Candice: Jagger and Charlize, 16.

And on Monday, Grant and Sharlene were spotted in Melbourne’s upmarket suburb of Brighton with Edward, Olympia and Jagger, as they appeared to be enjoying a fun day out together on the affluent Church Street.

The family have now settled into life in Victoria, having moved from Grant’s hometown of the Gold Coast last year.

When they tied the knot four years ago, Grant paid a lavish tribute to his bride.

He wrote at length: ‘I feel so blessed to call you my beautiful wife @sharhackett. With a year full of uncertainty, it was a perfect way to end 2020.

‘With COVID-19 continuing to postpone our wedding and us not being able to properly plan our wedding with all of our friends and family in 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 in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph that he and his then-girlfriend were expecting a baby.

“I felt like I was going to be 40 and I wanted another chance as a father,” he said.

“I knew I wanted more children, but only with someone who was committed and would become my life partner.”

Grant and Sharlene welcomed their son Edward Anthony Hackett in January 2020.

Sharlene met Grant in 2015 on the Gold Coast and started dating in August 2018.

The athlete described his relationship with Sharlene as “incredible” and said the dessert chef is a good influence on him.