Hackett said his biggest regret was not listening to warning signs 12 months ago when he successfully launched a comeback after six years out of the pool.
The triple Olympic gold medallist was the feel good story of Australian swimming when he remarkably made the 2015 world titles team at 35 after just months back in the water.
But Hackett was not happy back in the public eye and admitted he should have ended his comeback after making the world titles team.
“I came back for the love of it and the love was taken away when the attention came on board,” he said.
“A lot of the focus on my personal life and history came up.
“It created pressure and unhealed scars, stuff I was trying to move forward from.
“Emotionally it put me back in the eye of the storm.
“In hindsight that was where the wheels started falling off.
“I really should have pulled myself out of the team.”
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