Joanne Jackson (swimmer)


Joanne Amy Jackson is an English freestyle swimmer. She is the sister of retired Olympic swimmer Nicola Jackson. She was born in Northallerton and went to Richmond School, North Yorkshire.

Swimming career

2004

She swam in the 2004 Athens Olympics in the 400 m freestyle and 4×200 m freestyle relay. She became the British and European 400 m freestyle champion. She was partly funded by Richmondshire District Council, swimming for in Consett, and has swum for and Durham Aquatics. She first competed in the World Swimming Championships in Barcelona in 2003.

2006

In the 2006 Commonwealth Games she won a silver medal in the 400 m freestyle event.

2008

On 11 August 2008 she won an Olympic bronze medal in 400 m freestyle.

2009

On 16 March 2009 she set a new world record in the 400 m freestyle in a time of 4:00.66, beating her British rival and reigning Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington in the process, who also broke the previous world record with a time of 4:00.89.
On 26 July, she claimed silver in the 400 metre freestyle at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships, finishing behind Pellegrini but ahead of Adlington. She then went on to claim a bronze medal in the 4×200 m freestyle relay and a silver medal in the 800 m freestyle – the most medals that any British swimmer has ever won in a single world championships.

2012

At the London 2012 Olympics, Jackson finished seventh in her 400 m freestyle heat in a time of 4:11.50 and was also part of the British team that finished in fifth place in the 4×200 m freestyle relay.

Retirement from swimming

After retiring from competitive swimming in 2012, Jackson went on to establish the Joanne Jackson Swim Academy with former Olympic swimmer Grant Turner.

Personal bests and records held