Story #9 How did Grant Hackett's TURNING POINT happen?

Grant Hackett is one of the world's greatest long distance swimmers.

According to Wikipedia...

Grant George Hackett OAM (born 9 May 1980) is an Australian swimmer, most famous for winning the men's 1500 metres freestyle race at both the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. This achievement has led him to be regarded as one of the greatest distance swimmers in history. He also collected a gold medal in Sydney for swimming in the heats of the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay. He is well regarded for his versatility, and has held the long course world record in the 200 m, 800 m, and 1500 m freestyle. He has dominated the 1500 m event for a decade, being undefeated in the event in finals from 1996 until the 2007 World Aquatics Championships. In total, he has won 10 long-course world championship gold medals.

Hackett was the captain of the Australian swimming team from the time the role was reintroduced in 2005 until his retirement in 2008.

Hackett worked for the Nine Network, often hosting Wide World of Sports. Hackett's contract as a Westpac Banking Corporation ambassador was not renewed in February 2012 after 13 years in the role, but he remains an employee of the organisation.

When Grant was 6, his parents discovered that he could swim better than most other kids his age. They got him a coach to explore the possibilities.  Very soon, Grant started winning competitions year after year. 

Still, nobody expected him to be a world class swimmer. The real TURNING POINT that turned him into one (ie. a world class swimmer as Grant's mom, Margaret, would later discover) happened, almost by accident, when he was 12. 

Mother and son were watching the Olympics on television at home... 

In his Margaret's words published in Mark Dobson's book Parenting Freak Ability: An incredible collection of ideas and strategies from parents who brought out the best in their kids, "We had just watched Kieran Perkins (another great Australian swimmer) win the 1500 metres in Atlanta and Grant asked me, 'Mum, do you think I could do that?" I said, "Of course you can." I was just being supportive really. I was always positive with the kids, and I was just letting him have his dreams. I wasn't directly connecting to the idea of winning the 1500 m. Since then Grant has said that because I said that, he knew he could do it. I had no idea it was such a defining moment for him but it really was.  

And 8 years later... Grant won his first 1500m gold medal at the Sydney Olympics 2000. 

Grant Hackett of Australia displays his gold medal after the men's 1500m freestyle final, 23 September 2000 at Sydney International Aquatic center during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. His compatriot Kieren Perkins took the silver medal and the bronze went to US Chris Thompson. / AFP / William WEST (Photo credit should read WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images)