Southend's sporting superstar Adam Hickey combined revision for his GCSE exams by helping the British team to fourth spot in the European Youth Triathlon Relay in Italy.

Southend High's Hickey, 16, saw his three-man team get off to a poor start when an inexperienced fellow member could only see the squad into about 10th position at the start.

Hickey completed his first ever competitive 400m sea swim and followed up with a nine-kilometre bike ride. He finished with a two-kilometre run to lift Britain into fourth place.

With a colleague who had helped Hickey's British squad to victory in the previous two years taking the third and final leg, fourth place was maintained until the end.

Hickey said: "I really enjoyed the event again. Although we weren't able to win this time we put up a good display. For the first time we had a two-day training camp leading up to our departure for Italy, but I have to say I would have preferred to stay at home and revise for my exams."

Published Friday June 11, 2004

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