'I'm proud I got help': Hackett

Olympic gold medallist Grant Hackett says he is "proud" of his decision to enter a US rehab facility for a "sleeping disorder" after being filmed running around Melbourne's Crown Casino half naked, while searching for his son in February.

A candid Hackett told Nine News reporter Robert Penfold that he spent a "really interesting" past five weeks at the Arizona facility.

"I've just been exhausted over a long duration and to actually get over here and to have a bit of peace and quiet – to be able to focus on myself and get into a really good head space," Hackett said.

The former athlete revealed that the "emotional issues" he was trying to deal with stretched all the way back to his childhood.

"I've lived – I guess when you look back on it - quite a stressful life from quite a young age. Emotionally, if you don't deal with [those issues] – and to be honest, I'm not too good at that – because as an athlete you're always trying to overcome adversity and the next challenge and it just gets to a situation in life where you're not coping too well and you need to put your hand up and ask for help," Hackett said.

The Olympian added that his parents also visited him at the facility where they "spoke about a lot of things" and had a "confronting week".

"It was good to sit down with them and talk about a lot of things… our history," Hackett said.

He added that he felt "proud" of his decision to reach out for help and encouraged anyone who was also going through difficulties to do the same.

Hackett said that he still has "a lot of things to keep working on to ensure he keeps moving forward" and that his only goal now is to be "a great father" and "to do things properly".

Hackett made headlines back in February after he was photographed with just a white singlet around his waist at Melbourne's Crown Casino.

Hackett, who lives in Sydney where he works for Westpac, had been flying to Melbourne regularly to visit his two children.

He and ex-wife Candice Alley recently finalised their divorce after separating in May.

Source: Nine News

Author: Natasha Lee, Approving editor: Martin Zavan