Health and beauty features

| Submit CommentSubmit Comments
James Hickman in action.
James Hickman in action.
View gallery (total of 2 images)
advertisement

Swim fit

Helen Tither
29/ 4/2008

HE'S broken world records, won gold medals a-plenty, and five times been world 200m butterfly champion. But, believe it or not, super swimmer James Hickman's proudest moment is not in the pool at all.

"I think that would have to be taking part in the opening ceremony of the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games," he ponders. "There we were in the City of Manchester Stadium, being watched by millions of people around the world and there's little old James Hickman from Burnage saying the oath. That was a really amazing feeling."

In fact, 32-year-old James' fondest memory should come as no surprise, as it involves the two passions that have driven his career so far - swimming and his home city of Manchester. The first passion, swimming, grew from an early talent, as James recalls.

"I was just a little lad when I started lessons," he says. "I remember doing my 10 metres badge at a relatively young age. I just did badges for fun really. By the time I was 12 I knew it was what I wanted to do. I was just really inspired by watching Adrian Moorhouse win his Olympic medal at Seoul in 1988.

"After that, I knew I wanted swimming to be my career. There was no way in school that I was going to end up in a desk job. I think it's partly because I've always been a bit of a hyperactive fellow.

"My parents just put me into swimming and gymnastics lessons to burn off a bit of energy."

Ambition

Young James's ambition was well placed as he went on to swim internationally for 10 years, retiring four years ago, breaking two world records and being named world 200m butterfly champion five times.

But while he is no longer competing at the sport, he has continued to promote swimming and its benefits since stepping out of the pool. Working as a director for Greater Sport and, more recently, as the public relations manager for the highly successful FINA World Championships event at the M.E.N. Arena.

Meaning he can indulge those two favourite passions once again, promoting his love of swimming in his favourite city.

"To have been involved in the Manchester World Championships recently was another massive highlight for me," he recalls. "Because, not only did it see 18 world records broken and prove to be a great event, but because I think we really managed to change the image of swimming around the world.

"We made it more fun, much more entertaining and sexier. Much more appealing as a sport to young kids who tend to only be inspired by glamorous careers like football. There were kids coming to watch who I know will have been really inspired to get involved for themselves. And to have done all that in my home town is fantastic."

Trunks

Having hung up his trunks, these days James admits to spending more time behind a desk than in the pool. Something which has taken some adjusting to when it comes to his diet and exercise regimes.

"Swimming is a really good cardiovascular sport for anyone who wants to get involved, it's great for raising your general fitness," he explains. "But when you are competing you have to do a lot of extra work. You need to be able to swim flat on the surface of the water so you need good stomach muscles - that means lots of sit-ups.

"Plus, you need a lot of upper body strength, which meant three one-hour weight-lifting sessions a week and five half-hour sessions of core conditioning like press-ups. Not to mention the four to five hours swimming training we were doing a day.

"So we didn't really have to control our diet at all. In fact, it wasn't a case of watching what you eat but just eating as much as you could to get up to the 6,000 calories a day we were burning off. We used to just eat, eat, eat. In fact, we used to laugh that while everyone else was looking for half fat food, we could have done with buying double fat!

"I've noticed a difference in what I can eat now I'm not exercising as often."

In between his new marketing jobs for the likes of FINA and Speedo, James says he's finally got round to helping a few friends and family improve their swimming techniques. And he is always going to be recommending the benefits of swimming to other people, whatever their age, level, or ability.

"I just love swimming, and I still try to get to the pool as often as I can. It's really brought me some amazing times. That first time I was world champion you just finish and think `Wow, I am the champion of the world!'

"And when I broke that first world record it's amazing to think you are the fastest human on the planet for that discipline. That's pretty cool!"


| Submit CommentSubmit Comments
Have your say
 
Have your say Got an opinion you want to share?
Register now and have your comments heard.

Register now


 
Related links
 
Sats tests
 

Should less emphasis be placed on the results of tests and more emphasis on general education for children?

Yes
90%
No
10%

Poll has now ended

Personal Finance
 

Customers with a 'good' credit profile
Company Typical APR
FirstPlus Exclusive Rate 6.6%
Moneyback Bank 7.2%
Barclaycard Personal Loan 7.3%
Alliance & Leicester 7.7%
Halifax (Semi-exclusive) 7.8%
Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) 7.8%
Barclays 7.9%
Easy Access
Provider AER*
BIRMINGHAM MIDSHIRES
e-Saver Account 		6.50%
ICICI BANK
HiSAVE Savings Account 		6.16%
BRADFORD & BINGLEY
Internet Saver 2 		6.00%
ICESAVE
Easy Access Account 		6.05%
PRINCIPALITY BS
e-SAVER 		5.75%
SAINSBURYS BANK
internet saver 		5.50%
Fees may apply