Career
Gillingham participated in three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1988. In August 1989, he equalled the existing world record in the long-course 200-metre breaststroke, only to co-hold it for a single day before the other record co-holder, American Mike Barrowman, lowered the record again. Gillingham was born in Walsall and trained by Tim Jones.
Gillingham was awarded the Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1993 for ‘services to swimming’ and retired from full-time competitive sport in 1996.
After retiring, he established a sports communications business focusing on sports marketing, development & events. Recently, Gillingham took part in a scheme called Young Ambassadors, promoting youth sport development in the North East of England at Loughborough.
