Essex swim coach does six triathlons in one weekend for GB deaf swimming team
Gina Dickson from Hornchurch is the assistant coach for the GB deaf swimming team
A woman from Essex is aiming to complete six triathlons in one weekend to raise money to get the GB deaf swimming team to the Deaf Olympics in November 2025.
Gina Dickson, from Hornchurch, is the assistant coach of the team.
She tells Greatest Hits Radio "unlike the Olympics and Paralympics, there's no funding avenues for the Deaf Olympics."
"There's a real lack of awareness as to what it takes to get a deaf athlete to the Olympics.
"Food, accommodation, flights, these things cost money.
Gina is hoping to raise £10,000 to fund 10 swimmers and 3 members of staff to go to the Deaf Olympics in Tokyo.
She is hoping to complete six different triathlon races in one weekend at Blenheim Palace on the 7-8 June 2025.
"In 2022 I did four triathlons in the weekend, this year I'm attempting six.
"I'm going to have to really push myself, like the kids I coach do, to do it.
"I'm going to have to stay focussed on my end goal and trust in my training; I've been training for months for this.
She explains once she finishes the run of each race she has to go right back to the finish line, jump in the water, and do it all again.
Gina is a teaching assistant during the week alongside this role with support from her school.
"We have no sponsorship for elite, gold-medal winning athletes.
"Deaf athletes have less time to train because they are working harder in a job to fund their competitions and equipment.
"We just don't have the funding coming in for the next level and the next generation."
The government's disability minister, Sir Stephen Timms, has previously said the government is “determined” to “eliminate barriers” hindering disabled people from participating in sport at an elite level.
However it still refuses to provide funding for the Deaflympics.
£1.27 million of funding is available for UK Deaf Sport to support grassroots sport until 2027.
Celebrating its 100th anniversary last year, the Deaflympics is a dedicated tournament established before the Paralympics.
This year it will take place in Tokyo from Sat, 15 Nov 2025 – Wed, 26 Nov 2025.