James Hickman the world short course 200m butterfly champion has decided to bring an end his international career, which has spanned some thirteen years. The twenty-eight year old won his first medal silver as a member of Britain's medley relay at the European Junior Championships in 1992.

The following year he turned silver into gold winning the 200m butterfly before moving into the senior ranks where he won thirty-six further medals at the World Short Course, European, European Short Course and Commonwealth Games.

Hickman represented his country at three Olympic Games reaching the final of the 200m at the 1996 Atlanta Games. But it was in the short course events that he made his mark.

Using his powerful turns and underwater work he won the 200m butterfly on an unprecedented five consecutive occasions. He also broke the world short course record for the 200m butterfly in 1998 with a time of 1min 51.76sec.

"I love the sport and have enjoyed swimming immensely but the time is right for me to retire" Hickman claimed adding, "I've had a great year and I always wanted to go out on a high."

He intends to stay in the sport and will be working with his sponsors Speedo and on Manchester's staging of the 2008 World Short Course Championships. But before all that he is looking forward to a restful Christmas away from the pool, his first for many a year.

QUICK FACTS
HICKMAN, James, GBR
BIRTHDATE	2 FEB 1976
PLACE	Stockport
HEIGHT / WEIGHT	180 cm / 75 kg
HOME	Manchester
REPRESENTS	City of Manchester
COACH	Paul Remmonds

- 2004 Olympics 15th 100 fly
- 2002 Commonwealths 4th 100 fly, 3rd 200 fly, 2nd 4x100 medley
- 2000 Olympics 13th 100 fly, 10th 200 fly
- 1998 Commonwealths 1st 200 fly, 2nd 4x100 medley
- 1998 Worlds 9th 100 fly, 5th 200 fly, 5th 4x100 meddley
- 1996 Olympics 9th 100 fly, 7th 200 fly
- 1995 Europeans 14th 100 fly, 7th 200 fly
- 1994 Commonwealth 7th 100 fly, 3rd 200 fly

Short Course
- 2004 SC Worlds 2nd 100 fly, 1st 200 fly
- 2002 SC Worlds 6th 100 fly, 1st 200 fly
- 2002 SC Europeans 4th 100 fly, 2nd 200 fly
- 2000 SC Europeans 2nd 100 fly, 1st 200 fly
- 2000 SC Worlds 2nd 100 fly, 1st 200 fly
- 2001 SC Europeans 3rd 100 fly, 1st 200 fly
- 1999 SC Worlds 3rd 100 fly, 1st 200 fly
- 1999 SC Europeans 2nd 100 fly, 1st 200 fly
- 1998 SC Europeans 1st 100 fly, 1st 200 fly
- 1997 SC Worlds 4th 100 fly 1st 200 fly