Regardless of what detractors may think of sport and the Olympics and how Grant Hackett fares in the 1500M final, he put on a great display of courage, guts and determination in setting a new OR and second fastest (to his own fastest) time ever in his heat.

Be it that his WR was set a few years ago now and new and considerably younger age distance swimmers have had is exploits to learn from, Grant as the relative old man of the event saw of the US swimmers and then met challenges from his Chinese competitor going stroke for stroke over quite a few laps before eventually having the better of him.

Well done Grant, and a great sports endurance example.