Hackett shatters world record

Grant Hackett shattered Ian Thorpe8217;s 800 metres freestyle record at the world championships on Wednesday to join his Australian rival as the only swimmers to win six individual world titles.

Hackett demolished his rivals to take gold in seven minutes 38.65 seconds, slashing more than half a second off the previous mark set by Thorpe at the 2001 world championships in Japan, when the pair engaged in an epic battle. Hackett8217;s amazing display took the spotlight away from Michael Phelps.