Beijing: Grant Hackett may have crossed off the 2012 London Olympics but he may swim on to the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games at the tailend of his stellar swimming career, Australian head coach Alan Thompson said on Monday.
The 28-year-old world record holder on Sunday confirmed he would not be swimming on to London after his heartbreaking loss of a third consecutive 1500 metres freestyle crown at the Beijing Games by less than a second.
Hackett fell agonisingly short by just 0.69sec in his attempt to become the first male swimmer to win the same event at three consecutive Olympics as Oussama Mellouli became Tunisia's first-ever Olympic swimming champion.
While Hackett closed the door on competing at a fourth Olympics in London, he did not say if he planned to quit swimming immediately.
Thompson said on Monday that there was still a chance that Hackett would stay in the sport until the Delhi Commonwealth Games in October 2010.
"I talked to him (Hackett) on the bus going to a function last night and he hadn't made his mind up then," Thompson told a press conference.
"Grant is certainly coming towards the end of his career, but he missed the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne with injury and I think that's a goal he has, but that's still two years away and that's a big decision to make. He'll have a rest now and he needs that rest and we'll wait for his decision."
"Grant found a new lease of life this year and he swum two of his best 1500ms since his world record (2001) and I think he knows he still has a bit of fight left in him."
Thompson also cautioned sprinter Libby Trickett and breaststroker Leisel Jones not to make hasty decisions on their careers in the wake of the Beijing Games.
Trickett and Jones, who both won two gold medals in Beijing, are thinking over their swimming futures.
"This is a very emotional time here and one thing that we all know is that you try not to make major decisions in your life at times of extreme emotion and you need that time to reflect and walk away and then the decision will come whatever it takes," Thompson said.
Jones, who broke through for her first individual Olympic gold in the 100m breaststroke here only to lose the 200m gold and world record to American Rebecca Soni, is looking forward to taking a long break from swimming.
"London is still four years away, it's still a long time and I'm just going to take my time and have a break," Jones said.
"My coach (Rohan Taylor) said I can take as long as I need. It would be nice to continue on until London in 2012, we'll see, but I'm not closing any chapters. It would be nice to continue on and get that 200m world record back."
Trickett, who finished the meet losing both the 50m and 100m freestyle events in which she is the world record holder, said at this stage she planned to stay in swimming.
"It's hard and difficult at this time because all the emotions are still running so hot, but at this point I am still definitely in the sport," she said.
"I have three months off now which I am really excited about it. I am really looking forward to enjoying this time and enjoying the achievements and then all the thinking will come later, but at this point I still have a lot that I want to achieve in the sport."
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