"Really hard to say I'm done"

Above: Brenden Hall celebrates after taking the 400m freestyle S9 bronze. Picture Delly Carr - Swimming Australia.

Brenden Hall, one the greatest servants of Australia’s Para movement, has left the door ajar for next year's Glasgow Commonwealth Games and beyond.

Hall, who grew up in Petrie and went to Pine Rivers State High School, produced one of his best 400m freestyle S9 races at the World Championships.

It earned a bronze medal, surprised the 32-year-old and left him “privileged” to have made the podium at all seven of his world titles.

Watching from the stands in Singapore last month was his family – wife Brittany and sons Bodi and Hugo – which made it “very very special”.

But, Hall gave no update on his sporting future, just saying “it goes to show how much I love this sport (and) makes it really hard to just say I’m done".

Medals were not a yardstick for the former Paralympic, World and Commonwealth champion, who trained at Redcliffe, Lawnton, Burpengary and now USC Spartans.

"Overall, I had no idea what to expect coming into here. Swimming wasn’t my number one priority for a change,” Hall told Swimming Australia.

“I just approached everything so differently this year with training and life … and preparing for life after swimming.

“I was just lucky enough to wear the green and gold once again. Surprisingly, I managed to bring out one of my best 400m results in eight years.

“It was pretty special to know, if I do decide to finish now, it was very, very special.

“Knowing my family was in the crowd, my wonderful wife Brittany and Bodhi and Hugo, to have them here while it was all going on…”

“Bodhi is a little bit older now, so he understands the significance of the moment and what Dad’s doing.”

Eighteen years after making his international debut, at the Arafura Games in 2007, Hall says he still “relishes every opportunity to put on the green and golf”.

And happy to help the Australian Dolphins build towards the Paralympic Games in Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032,

“There’s a lot of exciting times ahead for para sport in general,” Hall told Swimming Australia.

“There’s a lot of young guys coming through and a lot more international opportunities will open up in years to come leading into LA and Brisbane 2032.

“We want Australia to be number on in the water, that’s what we’re known for.

“Hopefully everything gets put together over the next couple of years. If I can help with that I’m happy to do so.”