Whatever happened to Grant Hackett’s first wife Candice Alley? Olympic swimmer’s ex has vanished from the spotlight since he remarried and started a new family

Former Olympic swimmer Grant Hackett recently welcomed his second child with his second wife, Sharlene Fletcher.

And now fans are wondering what happened to Hackett’s first wife, Candice Alley.

The three-time gold medalist met singer-songwriter Alley in 2004, and the couple tied the knot in 2007.

At the time, the blonde beauty was riding the success of her hit single Falling, which reached the top five of the ARIA charts in 2003.

Two years after marrying Hackett, the couple welcomed twins in 2009 – a boy named Jagger Emilio and a girl named Charlize Alley.

Candice put her music career on hold to focus on wifehood and motherhood, but in 2011 her marriage to the Olympian hit a rough patch.

Police were called to the luxury Melbourne apartment after midnight following a dispute that occurred after the pair attended Derby Day together.

Hackett played down the tragedy, telling the Herald Sun at the time that he was “overwhelmingly embarrassed” by the incident, while insisting there was nothing to worry about.

‘For me, the events of Saturday evening were very unfortunate and out of character. There has been speculation about Candice and I and our personal belongings, and that’s all fine,” he explained.

“I am deeply embarrassed and apologetic and look forward to putting this incident behind us.”

Candice made her breakthrough in 2003 with her hit single Falling

The singer-songwriter performed the pop song at the 2003 ARIA Awards

Hackett later told Channel Nine that the incident was just an “unfortunate misunderstanding” and that they were dealing with “private matters.”

“Candice is 100% fine, our apartment is 100% fine and so are our twins, so it’s all a bit of an unfortunate misunderstanding that we’re dealing with,” he said.

Despite claiming to be happy in their marriage, the couple had officially split within a year, announcing the news in May 2012.

The three-time gold medalist met Alley in 2004, and the couple married in 2007 before welcoming two children together. (Pictured in 2010)

Just two months later, Candice was subject to a police investigation for allegedly removing items from an upscale Melbourne boutique.

However, no charges were filed against her over the alleged incident after the owner of the shops withdrew her complaint to the police.

Buckets and Spades owner Zlata Relin said Alley’s attorneys contacted her and said they were able to resolve the issue.

“They called me on Friday and they were very helpful and said they would pay for the items,” she explained to the Herald Sun.

In 2011, police were called to the luxury Melbourne apartment after midnight following a dispute that occurred after the pair attended Derby Day together. (Pictured in 2009 during the Melbourne Cup)

Candice and Grant finalized their divorce in 2013 and the Falling hitmaker disappeared from the spotlight.

‘Towards the end, the pain was too tiring and exhausting for me to continue the marriage. When we broke up, there were no tears because I was spent,” Candice told New Idea about the breakup.

After seemingly disappearing from the public eye, the singer reappeared in 2015 with a recurring guest role on Neighbors.

She played Cecilia Saint in the series, a character she confessed was “a bit of a bad girl.”

In 2012, Candice was subject to a police investigation for allegedly removing items from an upscale Melbourne boutique

After seemingly disappearing from the public eye, the singer reappeared in 2015 with a recurring guest role on Neighbors.

Once the role wrapped in 2016, Candice fell into obscurity again, but she did give an interview that year in which she discussed the difficulties of living as a single parent.

“My children are very happy because of some of the decisions I have made. Being a mother is the most important job in the world because you are raising and trying to shape people. All you can do is do your best,” she tells Kidspot.

Of her bitter divorce from Grant, the star said: “Thankfully my kids had no idea what was going on.”

She added: “I didn’t have to explain anything. It was easier for me.’

These days, Candice seems to have completely disappeared from the spotlight and no longer updates her social media accounts.

Hackett took over as CEO of investment firm Generation Life in January 2020, after working at the company since 2017.

The Australian swimming legend (pictured with his newborn daughter and son Edward, four) welcomed his second child with second wife Sharlene in August

Meanwhile, Hackett moved on with Sharlene Fletcher, marrying the brunette beauty in 2021 and welcoming two children together.

Hackett’s current picturesque life is not what anyone predicted six years ago when he went missing for days after an argument with his family.

When he disappeared after an argument with his father and a blow with his brother, his family begged him to come home on TV out of fear for his safety.

“He’s a danger to himself… we’ve reached the end of the road,” his brother Craig said at the time.

‘This is a completely different person. He is there physically, but he is not there in spirit, soul or spirit.”

Hackett suffered a black eye and a broken jaw during the fight and posted a photo of his injuries on social media.

The episode followed issues with alcohol and sleeping pill addiction amid a bitter custody battle with his then-wife Candice.

In February 2017, the controversial swimmer accused his brother of beating him up in a social media post that read: ‘My brother comments on the media… but does anyone know he beat me up’

It all came to a head when the former Olympic swimming champion was arrested at his parents’ home in February 2017. He is pictured in the back of the police car after his arrest.

Hackett was spotted half-naked walking around Melbourne’s Crown Casino in February 2014 (pictured) after taking the sleeping pill Stilnox

In 2014, he was seen wandering disoriented through Crown Casino, with only a shirt tied around his waist, after his son ran away from their hotel room.

After a failed swimming comeback, he was arrested in April 2016, accused of pinching the nipples of a male passenger on a Virgin flight.

He later apologized and admitted he had drunk half a bottle of gin before the flight.

The saga with his family followed less than a year later, in February 2017, but led to him checking himself into rehab in California.

His time there was a turning point and he is now Chief Executive Officer of investment company Generation Life.