STOCKTON'S Jessica Dickons has announced her retirement from competitive swimming after failing to qualify for this summer's Olympic Games.

Dickons, who specialised in the 100m and 200m butterfly, was first selected for the senior Great Britain squad in 2004.

She competed in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, finishing seventh in the 100m butterfly, and claimed two gold medals at last year's World University Games in China.

However, the 22-year-old narrowly missed out on a place in the Olympics, finishing third at the domestic trials, and has opted to pursue other goals rather than remain in training ahead of the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Dickons tweeted: “I've had such an amazing past ten years swimming, but now it's time to move on and start the next chapter of my life. Thank you to everybody who has ever helped me along the way, especially my friends, family, coaches and team-mates. I will never forget any of you.”