Grant Hackett of Australia during a press conference, March 2007, at the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships in Melbourne. Hackett has been hospitalized in Beijing with a serious blood infection caused by flesh-eating bacteria, reports said 25 April 2007. [File Photo: AFP]

Australian swimming star Grant Hackett has been hospitalized in Beijing with a serious blood infection caused by flesh-eating bacteria, reports said Wednesday.
　　
The Olympic champion, who is in the 2008 host city on a promotional tour, complained of headaches and dizziness shortly after arriving in China this week.
　　
His right ankle subsequently became severely swollen and he was taken to hospital for treatment.
　　
"It just started off as the smallest cut and then you sort of look at it and ... (now it) doesn't look too good," Hackett told Australian television.

The Herald Sun newspaper quoted him as saying the potentially dangerous infection was under control and that he would resume training next week.
　　
"It could have got quite serious if I had let it go any longer. It got into my bloodstream but I acted promptly, which is a relief," said the 26-year-old.
　　
Hackett cut himself on a coral reef last week in Fiji, where he was on his honeymoon after marrying singer Candice Alley.
　　
The once-unbeatable Hackett was hopelessly out of sorts at last month's world championships in Melbourne, beaten in his pet 1,500m freestyle for the first time in more than a decade as he struggled for form and fitness.