News Round-Up:
Australia: Olympic 1500m freestyle champion from 2000 and 2004 Grant Hackett has been dropped by a children's anti-violence charity after pictures were published of damage in his Melbourne apartment following an alleged drunken rampage last year, media Down Under report. Until last week an ambassador for the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, which cares for children who have experienced violence, Hackett has separated from his wife, Candice Alley after five years of marriage. The couple have two children. The charity's move followed publication in an Australian newspaper of 15 photos police took after they were called to Hackett's Melbourne penthouse last October by Alley. In Britain, controversy rages at the highest levels over the relationship between media and police. In Australia, it seems, there is no impediment to police evidence being passed on to the media by the police. The photos showed holes smashed in walls, furniture overturned and damage to a bedroom door. Hackett denied having a drink problem in an interview with an Australian paper, stating: "… to say that I'm a party animal or go out regularly is hurtful. Like when I was swimming I'm completely focused on what I'm trying to achieve and providing for my family."
USA: distance freestyle legend Janet Evans, 40 and on the comeback trail, finished sixth in the 800m free at the Speedo Grand Challenge at Irvine, California, on Sunday, the race her last before US Olympic trials in late June. Haley Anderson clocked 8:33.65 to pip Kate Ziegler, on 8:33.97 after having won the 200m and 400m free at the meet. Megan Rankin, an 18-year-old who trains with Evans, was third in 8:41.13, with Evans on 8:49.36. "It was a little disappointing, but I think she’s tired from training," Evan's coach Mark Schubert told media, explaining that the swimmer was tired from training and had been working on a shift in technique. "We tried to get her head down and get her to swim in and out of her turns a little better, which she’s doing," Schubert said. "You don’t make huge changes. It’s just trying to figure out the right things to do the last four or five weeks before trials." In other races, Christian Schurr (Texas) clocked 2:12.81 in the 200m breaststroke, Ellen Gandy (Nunawading, AUS, and GBR) 2:09.83 in the 200m 'fly, Nick D'Arcy (AUS) 1:57.16 in the 200 'fly and Jason Lezak (USA) 49.96 in the 100m free.
Canada: at the Mel Zajak Jr International in Vancouver, Brent Hayden (CAN) managed to hold off Park Tae Hwan 49.45 to 49.61 in the 100m freestyle. Park's Korean teammate Lee Hyunseung clocked 15:27.41 to win the 1500m freestyle, while Australians Yoland Kukla and Meagan Nay took a win each, Kukla on 55.48 in the 100m freestyle, Nay on 1:01.33 in the 100m backstroke.
