SWIM LONDON
Eighteen months ago Hicks was asked by BBC TV presenter and swimming world record holder Ayo Akinwolere whether it would be possible to take a group of adults from being aquaphobic non-swimmers to completing their first mile in open water at the Great Manchester and Great London Swims. “I don’t know” said Hicks, “Let’s try it…”
From January to July 2015 Hicks and his colleague Danielle Ballaram ran weekly training sessions for participants in the Swim Dem Crew Swim Challenge, helping dissolve the fear of water among participants and leading to 12 completing Great Swim events, including one swimmer who went from only being able to stand up in the 0.8m deep children’s pool, to completing a mile in Salford Quays.