Things change when a champion arrives

Some things just have to change when a television channel hires an illustrious Olympic champion.

So when Grant Hackett signed on the dotted line with Australia's Channel Nine recently as a weekend sports presenter, the logistics team had to swing into action.

His co-anchor, the experienced Jo Hall, had to stand aside as the studio crew took over her desk.

They knew exactly what they had to do, and the task was completed swiftly.

When she returned to her desk, the adjustments were perfect.

When you sit next to a bloke as tall as Hackett, your seat has to be winched up a fair way.

It would be unthinkable, after all, to have one presenter towering over the other.

Hackett was the man under pressure at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, when the media dissected his problems and came to the conclusion that the freestyler had "lost his stroke".

But not only did he win the 1,500m, he did it again at Athens.

At Beijing - just as Kieren Perkins tasted defeat while going for his third successive title in the same event - Hackett was beaten and had to settle for silver.

Yet, for a former world record holder and a highly respected swimmer, Hackett has a sense of humour.

You see, he was being courted by Channel Seven before he accepted the offer from Channel Nine.

And as far as we understand, he baulked at the fact that Seven wanted him to do a series of Dancing With The Stars.

The big fella made it clear that even Olympic champions have drawbacks too. "I'm six-foot-six and white with two left feet," he declared, "so I'm not a great dancer."

He might not be able to dance, but Channel Nine is hoping he can waltz away with a ratings win.