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Olympian Grant Hackett arrested on the Gold Coast, released without charge

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Olympian Grant Hackett has been released without charge by Gold Coast police.

The 36-year-old left Southport police watchhouse on Wednesday afternoon, after he was arrested following a disturbance at his parents' home at Mermaid Waters.

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Grant Hackett in police custody

Former Olympic swimmer Grant Hackett's brother has said he no longer knows the person his brother has become. Vision courtesy: Nine News

Hackett's father Neville called police to the family home about noon after the champion swimmer became agitated and verbally aggressive.

The swimmer's brother Craig admitted the family was at a loss with how to deal with his erratic behaviour.

"The whole family have done everything that we can but now it's kind of out of our hands, it really is," Craig said outside their Mermaid Waters home.

Following Hackett's release, his brother told the media Hackett was not his usual self.

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"This is not Grant Hackett. This is a completely different person. I don't know this person, my mum and dad don't know this person," he said.

"He's there in body but he's not there in mind, soul or spirit.

"From a mental health perspective I hope something can be done."

Footage from earlier in the afternoon showed the swimmer being driven in a police car into the watchhouse, at first covering his face but later showing his handcuffs to the television cameras.

A police spokeswoman confirmed officers had arrested a man following a disturbance at an address on Surfers Avenue at Mermaid Waters about noon.

Seven News reported witnesses claimed Hackett was "going off" and stabbing a chopping block.

Hackett, a three-time Olympic gold medallist and considered to be one of Australia's greatest swimmers, has struggled with personal issues and addiction.

He attempted to make the team for Rio last year but missed out, only to be involved in a drunken incident on the flight back from Adelaide and detained by police.

In 2014, he was filmed wandering through the Crown Casino in Melbourne in only his underwear and claiming to be looking for his young son. That would lead to a five-week stint in rehab.

He made little secret that he had battled to adjust after professional sport and this latest incident comes as a huge setback in his efforts to reform his life.

With AAP