Interview with Dolphin Boy!

James Hickman won the 200m butterfly at World Short Course Championships five times, and now he's helping to promote the 2008 World Short Course Championships that are taking place in Manchester next April. We caught up with him to see what he's been up to since retiring from swimming in December 2004.

1. You are helping with the World Short Course Championships, how is that going?

Really well. We launched the event in September and tickets have been selling fast. The event is going to be very different this time. It is being held at the MEN Arena in Manchester, which typically holds concerts, so we are going to use all the stage equipment they have and lights to make it more entertaining than the average swimming competition.

2. You have been involved in the Total Swimming Roadshow recently. What did you get up to?

We went to the Manchester Aquatics Centre, which was the venue for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. I had a great time with the children. I delivered my swimming Masterclass in the pool, giving the children lots of tips and advice. I didn't have time to do things like this when I was swimming so it's really great to be involved now.

3. How did you first get in to swimming?

I learned to swim when I was about five years old, as a life skill, at my parent's recommendation. I was quite hyperactive as a child and I used to channel my energy in the pool. I really enjoyed swimming and role models like Adrian Moorhouse inspired me to train hard. I knew from an early age it was my ambition to swim for Great Britain.

4. What was the highlight of your career?

It is difficult to say. I have had a lot of highs, all very different though. The first highlight was becoming World Champion. Breaking the world record was the next highlight, being faster than anyone else on the planet is an immense feeling! The third highlight of my career was winning my fifth World Championship gold medal. I appreciated it more as I got older. There was a lot of pressure on me to make it five times in a row, but when I did it, it was the best feeling in the world.

5. You’re a Manchester City fan. They are doing incredibly well so far this season, where do you predict they will finish?

It would be great for them to finish in the top six. In previous years this would have been a dream, but this season it is a realistic possibility.

You are born in to football in Manchester. My dad was a City fan, so I naturally became one.

6. Was butterfly always your strongest stroke?

I used to swim all strokes. Breaststroke was my worst. I was the British Junior Backstroke Champion and have done medleys and swam really well. However, when I won the European Junior Championships in the 200m fly, at 17 years old, that became my event. But when my fly wasn't good I would enjoy doing other strokes.

7. How does it feel to set a world record? (200m butterfly 1998)

It is hard to describe. I thought I would be exhausted after swimming so hard but it is amazing how much energy you find to jump around and celebrate. I had another race straight afterwards and standing on the block I felt invincible - I won that race too! I was just so excited, it was like being on top of the world.

8. Did you ever want to be anything else other than a swimmer?

After being inspired at 12 years old, no other career ever really came in to my life. I used to want to be an astronaut or a fireman when I was really young, but other than that, just a swimmer.