Career
He announced his retirement from the sport in 2004. During that year he reached the semi-final of the 100 m butterfly in the 2004 Athens Olympics, finishing with a time of 53.10 seconds. He also reached the semi-final in the 2000 Sydney Olympics finishing 6th (likewise in the 200 m butterfly).
His best appearance in an Olympic final came in the 1996 Atlanta Games, where he placed 7th in the 200 m butterfly.
Hickman also owns a television and radio production company called Made in Manchester Productions. He set it up with Ashley Byrne (British Broadcasting Corporation broadcaster and former commercial radio boss) in May 2005.
The company made From Bomb to Boom (about the Manchester bomb) for ITV1, Cartoon Kings presented by Sir David Jason (about animators Cosgrove and Hall) for ITV1 and Another Fine Mess for British Broadcasting Corporation Radio 2, presented by Sir Norman Wisdom (celebrating 80 years of Laurel and Hardy). Made in Manchester has also been commissioned to make a religious documentary for British Broadcasting Corporation Radio 4 which was broadcast in early 2007.
They have also produced radio shows for British Broadcasting Corporation Radio Manchester in the Citizen Manchester Series, plus various other documentaries for the station.
They have also produced "Jah Wobble"s Mystical Musical Tour" for the British Broadcasting Corporation World Service, "Salt "n" Pepa - Push it" for British Broadcasting Corporation Radio 1Xtra and also "Brass Britain" and a documentary about the Beach Boys for British Broadcasting Corporation Radio 2. He currently works for Speedo International as the Global Sports Marketing Manager and manages the international sponsorships for the brand. Hickman attended William Hulme"s Grammar School.