17.10.2006
Former world freestyle swimming champion Karen Pickering is to open her latest swim school at the university's campus in Eastbourne.
Part of the deal was to give university students a chance to widen their experience by teaching at the swim school and to earn some much-needed money. The school called Karen Pickering Swim, opens to the public next month (November) and will give Eastbourne's swimmers and learners a new, top quality swim school.
The new school's main aim will be to improve swimming standards. It will encourage people of all ages and abilities to have a go; from children who can't swim to adults who can, but who want to improve their performance.
Karen Pickering with BA(Hons) Sport Journalism students at the Chelsea Pool, (from left: Chris Lumb, Karen Pickering, Gemma Nash, Dan Rumens, Tom Glenn).
Karen is the most decorated female swimmer ever to swim for Britain. She won 14 European and 38 Commonwealth Games medals and became the first British female swimmer to win a World Championship title. For her outstanding services to swimming, she was awarded the MBE in 1994.
She is passionate about preaching the swimming gospel. Karen said: "I retired from competitive swimming in August 2005 and took a year off to decide what to do. Sport opens so many doors and I have had so many good things from it that I have this mission in life to give something back. I want more people to share the enjoyment that I know swimming brings."
Karen opened her first swim school last year in Ipswich and plans to open further facilities in Brighton, Worthing and Colchester. She said, "I chose Chelsea School because of the excellent facilities, flexible pool hours and helpful, accommodating staff."
"I feel very much at home in Sussex because I was born in Brighton and Eastbourne holds special memories for me as I won the county title here when I was 10–years-old."
Head of Chelsea School Professor Jo Doust said: "We warmly welcome this association. Karen Pickering's personal performance is exemplary as is the way she goes about promoting swimming. All this is very much compatible with the aims of Chelsea School and we look forward to working with her."
This exciting initiative is a good example of the university seeking new ways to ensure that its valuable facilities are used for the maximum benefit of both its students and the wider community.
Chris Lumb
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022
