in 1977, wickham’s family moved to california, where she trained for six months with coaching legend mark schubert. she returned to brisbane at the end of 1977 and she came under the guidance of coach bill sweetenham at the commercial swimming club. on 8 february 1978, wickham broke her first world record, the 1500 m freestyle, in a solo swim at the fortitude valley pool in brisbane, clocking 16:14.93.