Helsinki Heaven for Stockton Swimming Star
Borough of Stockton Swimming Scheme and Tees Active Sports Academy member Jessica Dickons announced her arrival onto the senior international swimming circuit with a bronze medal and a new British Record on day one of the European Short Course Championships in Helsinki.
The 16-year-old swimming sensation gave the performance of her young career so far to drop her personal best time for the Women’s 200m Butterfly by over four seconds as she claimed the bronze in a race that saw gold go in a new European Record time.
Poland’s Otylia Jedrzejczak won in a time of 2:04.94 with Beatrix Boulsevicz of Hungary taking the silver in 2:06.73 while Dickons, whose previous best had stood at 2:11.52 at the start of the day, touched to take bronze in 2:07.36 and beat the previous best British time of 2:08.03.
“It’s my first international medal at my first international meet,” said Jessica. “I just can’t believe it. It wasn’t something I expected when I made the squad and to get the British Record just tops it all off.
“I’ve dropped my personal best by a massive amount through the heat and into the final, and I’m looking forward now to seeing how low I can get it as I grow into my event.”
Jessica’s coach Graeme Antwhisle added “ Jessica’s swim and time was absolutely incredible and at this early time in the season producing that type of swim bodes well for 2007”
Whilst away Jessica picked up the title of BBC Look North ‘Sportskid of the Year’, her bronze medal in Helsinki completes a fantastic 2006 for this talented teenager.