World champion swimmer to get honorary degree

Karen Pickering won tens of medals during her competitive swimming career

Britain's first female world champion swimmer will be awarded an honorary doctorate.

Karen Pickering MBE made her first senior international debut in 1986 when she was just 14, before she won her first world title in 1993 and later went on to compete in various Olympics.

She trained at Crown Pools in Ipswich, where she represented Team Ipswich from 1997 until her retirement in 2005.

Now aged 53, Pickering will be given her honorary doctorate at the University of Suffolk next month, which she said she was "honoured to accept".

"Ipswich was my home for over 20 years, and I represented Team Ipswich Swimming through most of my international career," she said.

"With 10 training sessions a week, Crown Pools became like a second home.

"I had incredible support from so many people in Ipswich and Suffolk, and this is why this recognition means so much."

University of Suffolk graduation ceremonies start taking place from 17 October

Pickering won three other world gold medals, four golds at the Commonwealth Games and tens of other medals.

She remained involved in the sport after her retirement, working as a commentator for the BBC, and she now works as head of swimming at a school in West Sussex.

She will receive her doctorate on 20 October at the university.

Prof Jenny Higham, vice chancellor, said the former swimmer's honorary degree was "another wonderful addition" to the graduation ceremonies and she hoped it would inspire the students "to future success".