Hackett suffering from asthma

2007-11-21 11:17

Sydney - Australian swim star Grant Hackett has revealed he is suffering from asthma, but he says the condition will not slow him down at next year's Beijing Olympics.

Hackett, 27, will compete in the 1 500m and 10km open-water races in Beijing, whose notorious air pollution has prompted warnings to endurance athletes.

The triple Olympic champion said he was pleased to have been diagnosed before the Olympics, adding that treatment could even help him swim faster.

"I have never had what you would call an asthma attack, but the doctors think I've always been a low-grade asthmatic," Hackett told The Australian.

"They say I just got used to having my breathing inhibited, and that it is exacerbated by swimming so hard and also by chlorine."

Hackett's asthma was discovered in September after the latest in a long line of chest ailments. He said treatment may now help him make the most of his vast lung capacity, which apparently masked the condition until now.

"I have a 13-litre lung capacity, which is 160% above what they predicted," he said. "Now I hope I will really be able to take advantage of that."

Hackett, who will chase an unprecedented third 1 500m title next year, has long been plagued by chest and sinus complaints and he was hospitalised with pneumonia before the 2004 Olympics.

At least one-third of Australia's swimming team is asthmatic, including world champions Libby Lenton and Jessicah Schipper, The Australian said.

- AFP