Hong Kong, China, December 27, 2021: One of Asia’s longest-serving head coaches, Chris Perry, has announced his retirement from his post at Hong Kong Rowing.
Perry, who was the chief instructor for the Olympic Council of Asia’s youth rowing camp in Pattaya, Thailand in October 2016, thanked everyone connected with his successful career in a Christmas Day post on Facebook.
“After 35 years, 9 months and 22 days as Head Coach of Hong Kong Rowing, yesterday (December 24) was my last day with the team. Having started with very little in terms of funding, equipment, facilities or results, I am incredibly proud of what we have all achieved together,” he said.
“Highlights include 8 Olympic Games, 9 Asian Games, 2 World Championship finals, 2 World Coastal Championship medals, 2 World U23 Championship medals, 19 Asian Games medals, 72 Asian Championship medals and 71 Asian Junior Championship medals.
“We now have a state-of-the-art rowing centre, a long-serving coaching and support team and a high-performance programme that is respected in Asia and around the World.”
The British coach added: “Most of all, however, I am incredibly proud of the many generations of Hong Kong athletes who have shared their trust, and a part of their sporting lives with me.
“Whether they have won medals or not, all have gone on to be successful in their own walks of life and that makes me extremely happy and satisfied. I hope I have had a small part in guiding them honestly and kindly.”
Perry added that he would still be involved in various sporting projects on a part-time basis, particularly with the World Rowing Development Programme.
Perry, from Kent, England, became Head Rowing Coach at Hong Kong Sports Institute in March 1986 after studying Physical Education and Sports Science at Loughborough University in England, graduating in 1984.
Kenny Wu, who worked on two Asian Games campaigns with Perry in 2014 and 2018, will take over as Head Coach of Hong Kong Rowing.