Olympic swimming champion Grant Hackett appears to fighting fit just months after checking into a rehab facility in the United States over a battle with drug addiction.
The trouble prone three-time Olympic gold medalist made headlines earlier this year when a public fist fight with his brother Craig was followed by his trip to the U.S.
But stepping out at the Sport Australia Hall of Fame induction on Thursday, a smartly dressed Hackett appeared to be in good spirits as he posed for cameras on the red carpet.
Olympic swimming champion Grant Hackett (pictured) appears to fighting fit just months after checking into a rehab facility in the United States over a battle with drug addiction
The trouble prone three-time Olympic gold medalist made headlines earlier this year when a public fist fight (left) with his brother Craig was followed by his trip to rehab in the U.S.
The 37-year-old retired distance swimmer was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014 and was on hand at the event to congratulate the latest group of sporting legends.
Dressed in a black tuxedo with a match black bow tie, Hackett appeared jovial as he smiled and laughed for the cameras prior to entering the event.
His cheerful demeanour was a far cry from the worrying behaviour that has shocked the nation in recent years.
The swimming star was left bloodied and bruised face after his fight with his brother in February 2017, which came after he went missing from his parents house.
He later revealed the fight came during an attempt by Craig to intervene in his drug reliance.
Hackett admitted he first started drinking and using sleeping pills in ‘bits and pieces’ while going through divorce to Candice Alley – the mother of his children – in 2013.
Two years earlier police were called to the couple’s penthouse Melbourne apartment following reports of a disturbance. They arrived to discover the house trashed.
Hackett was also pictured walking through the foyer of Crown Casino wearing only a nappy in 2014, which was followed by his first stint in a rehabilitation clinic.
Hackett admitted he first started drinking and using sleeping pills in ‘bits and pieces’ while going through divorce to Candice Alley – the mother of his children – in 2013
The 1500m champion admitted in a candid interview this year, that he had battled with his life since retiring from swimming
Last year he was also reportedly involved in an altercation on a domestic flight where he allegedly grabbed the nipple of another passenger. He later apologised.
The 1500m champion admitted in a candid interview with Sydney radio stars Kyle & Jackie O this year, that he had battled with his life since retiring from swimming.
‘I never really recovered well from that. Any time I have gone through something I’ve fallen into that hole much quicker than I ever had through my swimming career or any other phase of my life where I have felt challenges,’ he said.
‘For me it has gotten to a point where it is so public and so hard to deal with, and has crushed me so much and got me so low, that I actually needed to get a team around me to fix that and to have the strategies in place to look after myself properly.’