Hackett says time's up on world swim mark

Holder of the oldest world record in swimming, Grant Hackett believes his mark may finally be eclipsed at next month's FINA world short-course swimming championships in Melbourne.

More than 1000 competitors from over 180 countries will take part in the December 13-18 competition, including Australian superstars Emma McKeon and Kyle Chalmers.

A seven-time Olympic medallist, including three gold, Hackett still holds the world record for the 800 metre short-course, set back in 2008.

Hackett set the mark at 7 minutes 23.42 seconds at the Victorian state championships in Melbourne three weeks before the Olympics in Beijing.

It was four years before another swimmer, Frenchman Yannick Agnel, swam 7:29.17 to join Hackett in the sub-7:30 club.

"It's a surprise that it's hung around so long," Hackett told AAP.

"That was the least-rested world record that I've done as I was still finishing off my big work block ... it was just one of those days where I felt really good the day before and just missed the 400 metre world record.

"I thought I might be in with chance with the 800 and it came together, but by no means did I think I'd be standing here in 2022 still talking about it and it still standing." 

Ukrainian Mykhailo Romanchuk holds the second-fastest all-time swim, clocking 7:25.73 in 2020, but will be missing from Melbourne.

The German team will be without defending short-course 1500 metre world champion and world record holder Florian Wellbrock.

However Hackett still thinks the drums are beating for a new world's best time.

Other contenders include Norwegian Henrik Christiansen, whose best time is 7:25.78, and Italy's former Olympic champion Gregorio Paltrinieri, who has clocked 7:27.94.

"The guys are getting super close to it now so I'm sure it's not too far away from getting broken," Hackett said.

"Now that it's an Olympic event it brings the 400 - the middle distance swimmers up and the long-distance guys down - so they meet in a fair event in the middle.

"No doubt we will see some athletes get really close or even get under that record this time around."

Now 42, Hackett will be at the championships in an athlete support role with Swimming Australia.

Australia won a massive 65 medals in the pool at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and Hackett expects the swim team to still be fit and firing.

Dual Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus will not be competing, nor will popstar-turned-swimmer Cody Simpson, however teenager Mollie O'Callaghan, who won seven Games medals including upsetting McKeon to win the 100m freestyle gold, will suit up.

"They will be super fit," Hackett said.

"Any time you rock up to a world championships, whether they be short or long course, you want to make sure you're fit.

"They would have only had a week or two off following Birmingham so they will be sharp and ready."