A buff Grant Hackett poses next to swimming champ Michael Phelps… looking the best he has in years

After a difficult few years, Australian Olympic swimmer Grant Hackett is looking fitter and healthier than ever.

The gold medallist, 38, shared a photo of himself on Monday alongside his friend and fellow Olympian Michael Phelps, 33, in Arizona.

Grant cut an athletic figure in a pair of skimpy trunks as he placed an arm around Michael’s shoulder in a photo shared to Instagram.

 

Lap of honour! A strikingly buff Grant Hackett (left) on Tuesday posted a photo of himself to Instagram standing next to fellow swimming champion and friend Michael Phelps (right)

Michael is also showing off his washboard abs in the picture, but cuts a slightly less muscular physique in comparison to Grant’s enlarged torso.

Grant captioned the snap: ‘Always great times in Arizona with Michael Phelps and [US Olympic swimmer] Allison Schmitt. Good to get a few laps in too!’

Fans commented on the picture, writing: ‘Great champs together. You both always inspired me to keep doing the hard work’, and, ‘Sugar daddy?’ 

Oh the cheek! In reference to Grant's Instagram picture, fellow former Olympic gold medalist Leisel Jones (pictured right) wrote: 'Were they competitive laps or roll the arm over laps?'

Oh the cheek! In reference to Grant’s Instagram picture, fellow former Olympic gold medalist Leisel Jones (pictured right) wrote: ‘Were they competitive laps or roll the arm over laps?’

Fellow former Olympic gold medalist Leisel Jones, 32, cheekily wrote: ‘Were they competitive laps or roll the arm over laps?’

Grant and Michael are great friends, with Michael having invited Grant to spend a few weeks with him in Arizona in 2017 after a turbulent year for the Australian swimmer.

It has indeed been a rough few years for Grant – in February 2017 he was arrested after a disturbance at his parents’ house on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

Battle scars: It has been a rough few years for Grant - in February 2107 he was arrested after a disturbance at his parents' house on Queensland's Gold Coast. Soon after he posted a photo of his bruised and bloodied face on social media - injuries Grant sustained during the incident

Battle scars: It has been a rough few years for Grant – in February 2107 he was arrested after a disturbance at his parents’ house on Queensland’s Gold Coast. Soon after he posted a photo of his bruised and bloodied face on social media – injuries Grant sustained during the incident

Troubled: Following the incident at his parents' house, Grant admitted he was at his lowest, saying, 'I wasn't in a good space, I was deep down in that ditch and hit rock bottom'

Troubled: Following the incident at his parents’ house, Grant admitted he was at his lowest, saying, ‘I wasn’t in a good space, I was deep down in that ditch and hit rock bottom’

Soon after, Grant posted a photo on social media of his bruised and bloodied face – injuries he sustained when his brother Craig intervened during the incident.

A few months later, Grant admitted he was at his lowest, saying, ‘I wasn’t in a good space, I was deep down in that ditch and hit rock bottom.’

In 2016, on a domestic flight from Adelaide to Melbourne, Hackett allegedly tweaked the nipple of fellow passenger Martin Slobodnik during a dispute over a seat.

Meltdown: Early in 2012, Grant destroyed an apartment at Melbourne's Crown Casino, tipping over a piano in front of his then wife, Candice Alley, and their twins, Jagger Emilio and Charlize Alley (pictured)

Meltdown: Early in 2012, Grant destroyed an apartment at Melbourne’s Crown Casino, tipping over a piano in front of his then wife, Candice Alley, and their twins, Jagger Emilio and Charlize Alley (pictured)

Early in 2012, Grant destroyed an apartment at Melbourne’s Crown Casino, tipping over a piano in front of his then wife, Candice Alley, 36, and their nine-year-old twins, Jagger Emilio and Charlize Alley.

Grant split with Candice that year, after five years of marriage. 

He is now is rumoured to be dating US competitive swimmer, Allison Schmitt, 28.  

Recovery: Grant and Michael Phelps are great friends, with Michael having invited Grant to spend time with him in Arizona in 2017 after a difficult year for the Australian swimmer

Recovery: Grant and Michael Phelps are great friends, with Michael having invited Grant to spend time with him in Arizona in 2017 after a difficult year for the Australian swimmer



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk