Why it matters: Karen Pickering MBE's distinguished international career spanned two decades, during which she won 35 major international medals and 38 national titles. She represented Team Ipswich from 1997 until her retirement in 2005, making Crown Pools her second home with 10 training sessions per week.
The details: Among her accolades are eight World Championship medals – four of which were golds – as well as 14 European Championship medals, and 13 medals, including four golds across four Commonwealth Games. She was awarded an MBE in 1994 for services to swimming.
What she's saying: "I'm honoured to accept the award of Honorary Doctor of the University of Suffolk," Pickering said. "Ipswich was my home for over 20 years, and I represented Team Ipswich Swimming through most of my international career. With 10 training sessions a week, Crown Pools became like a second home."
She added, "I had incredible support from so many people in Ipswich and Suffolk, and this is why this recognition means so much."
What's next: Since retiring from competition, Pickering has remained closely involved in swimming as a BBC commentator covering the last five Olympic Games. She has contributed to athlete welfare as Chair of the British Athletes Commission, and held board positions at the English Institute of Sport, British Olympic Association and Sport England.
Currently working as Head of Swimming at a school in West Sussex, she will take on a new role as President of the English Schools Swimming Association in 2026, continuing to develop young athletes.
For context: The ceremony on Monday, 20 October will see Pickering join a distinguished list of University of Suffolk honorary graduates, including Ed Sheeran MBE, Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna, West End star Kerry Ellis and TV presenter Angela Rippon CBE.
Professor Jenny Higham, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Suffolk, said: "Graduation week is an incredibly special time as we celebrate the hard work and achievements of our graduates. The conferral of an honorary degree to the esteemed Karen Pickering MBE is another wonderful addition to those ceremonies and inspires our students to future success."
The bottom line: Pickering's honorary doctorate recognises both her exceptional sporting achievements and her ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of swimmers through her work in education and athlete welfare.
