Joanne Jackson

Biography

Jo first represented Great Britain in 2001 as a junior. In 2003 she was selected as a senior and immediately had her first major success when she medaled at the European Short Course Championships.

The following year at only 17 years of age Jo was selected to swim in her first Olympic Games in Athens in the 400m freestyle, but she still regards failing to progress past the heats as the biggest disappointment of her career.

In 2006 as a member of England’s Commonwealth Games team in Melbourne Jo won a brace of silver medals.

At last year’s Olympics in Beijing Jo put the memories of Athens behind her for good winning the 400m freestyle bronze medal in a thrilling race where she was just touched out of the gold & silver medals.

Since returning from Beijing Jo’s performances have been outstanding. At the British Championships in March she beat her close friend, Rebecca Adlington in the 400m freestyle setting a new World Record at the time. She also bettered her time over 800m by 6 seconds at the Scottish Championships in June.

Having had such a great build up to the 2009 World Championships in Rome in July, Jo was expected to do really well and she didn’t disappoint.

An incredible swim in the fastest women’s 400m race of all time brought her first success of the championships with a silver medal, beating Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington who came third, followed by bronze in the 4x200m relay in a new European record time.

Then in the 800m Jo showed that even over the longer distance she has the strength to sprint at the end of the race, passing the Italian swimmer in the final 25 metres to take another silver medal, again defeating her close friend Rebecca Adlington who finished 4th.

On her return from Rome Jo’s sensational season continued setting a new 400m freestyle World Record (short course).

Achievements

Olympic Games

• 2008  Long Course  Bronze  400m Freestyle  4:03.52 
• 2008  Long Course  9th  4x200m Freestyle Relay  7:56.16 
• 2008  Long Course  14th  200m Freestyle  1:58.70 
• 2004  Long Course  21st  400m Freestyle  4:14.89 
• 2004  Long Course    4x200m Freestyle Relay  2.00.89 (Heat) 

World Championships

• 2009  Long Course  Silver  400m Freestyle  4:00.60 BR 
• 2009  Long Course  Silver  800m Freestyle  8:16.66 
• 2009  Long Course  Bronze  4x200m Freestyle  7:45.51 ER 
• 2009  Long Course  4th  200m Freestyle  1:55.88 
• 2007  Long Course  5th  4x200m Freestyle Relay  7:57.02 
• 2007  Long Course  7th  400m Freestyle  4:07.42 
• 2005  Long Course  7th  400m Freestyle  4:08.88 
• 2005  Long Course  4th  4x200m Freestyle Relay  7:59.04 
• 2008  Short Course  Bronze  400m Freestyle  4:01.11 
• 2008  Short Course  6th  800m Freestyle  8:18.87 

European Championships

• 2008  Long Course  Silver  4x200m Freestyle  7:52.36 
• 2006  Long Course  Silver  400m Freestyle  4:07.76 
• 2006  Long Course  4th  4x200m Freestyle Relay  7:57.86 BR 
• 2006  Long Course  5th  200m Freestyle  1:59.30 
• 2005  Short Course  Silver  400m Freestyle  4:01.12 
• 2005  Short Course  6th  200m Freestyle  1:56.72 
• 2005  Short Course  8th  200m Butterfly  2:09.81 
• 2003  Short Course  31st  200m Freestyle  2:00.71 
• 2003  Short Course  Gold  400m Freestyle  4:04.00 

Commonwealth Games

• 2006  Long Course  Silver  400m Freestyle  4:08.36 
• 2006  Long Course  Silver  4x200m Freestyle Relay  8.01.23 
• 2006  Long Course  6th  200m Freestyle  1:59.59