Grant Hackett Admits Himself Into Hospital

Just days after allegedly ‘tweaking the nipple’ of a male passenger mid-flight, Australian distance ace Grant Hackett has admitted himself into a private hospital.

The Gold Coast Bulletin reports that Hackett has checked himself into Pindara Private Hospital with a uvulitis infection, a condition characterized by severe swelling of the uvulva tissue that hangs from the back of the throat.

Australian Head Coach Jacco Verhaeren, told the press that he is ‘shocked’ to hear that Hackett was ill. In light of the alleged assault on the plan, Verhaeren said,  “I don’t know if the two things are related but he hasn’t had a great week so far, so I really hope that he gets well.”

Hackett competed at the 2016 Australian Olympic Trials earlier this month, where he finished 4th in the men’s 400m freestyle and 11th in the men’s 200m freestyle, thus off the Rio roster.

“He was, of course, disappointed not to make the Rio team but I thought he managed … that very well with being a great commentator afterwards on TV. We were surprised and shocked about what happened … and this on top of it again,” stated Verhaeren.

35-year-0ld Hackett reportedly was suffered from uvulitis before and during his Adelaide swims, but his checking into the hospital is perhaps indicative that his condition has worsened.

Robina general practitioner Roger Halliwell said uvulitis could be a very painful condition and that if Hackett had been admitted to hospital, it was likely he had not performed his best during the Rio trials. (Gold Coast Bulletin)

“What you end up with is like a cherry-red looking, angry, swollen uvula hanging down the back of the throat.”

“I’ve seen people with that over the years and they’re absolutely miserable. If he’s been admitted to hospital with it and assuming that it’s a true medical admission … he’s probably going to end up on … antibiotics and reasonably solid pain killers and plenty of fluids.”

Halliwell said of the infection, “You would expect it to get better but that would be a very unpleasant condition to have. If he was coming down with this last week which is likely, his performance would have been off but he would have felt terrible.”

Verhaeren says that Swimming Australia is going to continue giving Hackett “the support he needs”, saying  they’ve communicated via text messages. The conversation was “Obviously finding out first if he was OK, if he was well and just reaching out to give him support if required.”