Emotional Chris Perry ends 36-year reign as Hong Kong head rowing coach; World Championship-winning veteran Kenny Wu to take over
- Perry posts a heartfelt message on Facebook, thanking the rowing and sporting community for their support in his ‘35 years, nine months and 22 days’ in charge
- Wu helped China’s men’s crew win their first-ever World Championship gold and is a student of Steve Redgrave’s celebrated coach Mike Spracklen
Christmas Day 2021 was more than a holiday for Chris Perry. It was also the first day in almost 36 years that he did not carry the title of “Hong Kong Rowing Head Coach”.
The Englishman, who initially came to Hong Kong for a three-month stint, left his position as Hong Kong Sports Institute head coach on Friday after an epic stint in the city that encompassed eight Olympics, nine Asian Games (19 medals) and two World Championship finals. He also oversaw 72 Asian Championship medals and 71 Asian Junior Championship medals.
In a Facebook post written from the heart, Perry said he spent 35 years, nine months and 22 days as head coach. He also introduced his replacement, Kenny Wu, a former China World Championship gold medal-winning coach who has worked with Mike Spracklen, who coached of British rowing great Steve Redgrave.
“Having started with very little in terms of funding, equipment, facilities or results, I am incredibly proud of what we have all achieved together,” wrote Perry. “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.
“Of course, I wish we could have added an Olympic medal to our list of achievements, but the foundation is there to build on in the future and we will always have the ambition to ‘fight above our weight class’.
“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.