OLYMPIC MEDALLIST PARRY CALLS TIME ON CAREER
Olympic medallist Steve Parry has announced his retirement
after more than a decade of competing at the pinnacle of international
swimming.
The 28-year-old took a bronze medal at the Athens Games last
summer in a memorable 200m Butterfly final to crown a career
encompassing medals across European, Commonwealth and British
levels.
Originally from Liverpool, the Stockport Metro swimmer first
rose to prominence when he won the 200m Butterfly title at
the Junior European Championships exactly 10 years before
he took his plaudits on the Olympic podium.
"I've trained long and hard to realise my dream of winning
an Olympic medal and now I have achieved my ultimate goal
I feel it is right and proper to retire from the sport I love
at the very top," said Parry.
"I want my medal swim at the Olympics to be my last
200m Butterfly outing. I want to savour that most memorable
moment of my career.
"It's certainly going to be hard to walk away. The buzz
and thrill of competing as part of a team, the pride I felt
at being considered a leader, my total enjoyment and admiration
of the sport - there's nothing quite like it.
"I just know I will miss being there when I watch the
major championships on TV - I'll probably find myself wearing
my tracksuit while sitting and watching at home."
Parry, who started his career as a City of Liverpool swimmer,
leaves Stockport Metro where he trained with the likes of
Olympic medallist Graeme Smith and Olympians James Goddard
and Adrian Turner.
Announcing his retirement, Parry paid tribute to the many
people who have helped him during the many years spent working
tirelessly towards realising his ambitions.
"It is so important to have a great support network
around you and I would like to thank my parents, my training
partners, Colin Stripe at City of Liverpool and recently Sean
Kelly at Stockport for helping me to achieve my dream.
"Sean is the guy that made it all happen for me and
his philosophy of coaching the swimmer and not the event will
carry on producing champions for years to come. He is a great
friend and mentor.
"There are many people that have helped along the way
and while I won't miss Bill Sweetenham (British Swimming National
Performance Director) getting me up at 4.45am while on training
camps, without his drive and determination I am not sure I
would have finally got there."
Parry's dedication to his sport certainly paid dividends
with a return of 10 senior Commonwealth, European and Olympic
medals to add to the many British titles and records acquired
over the years.
His bronze medal winning time of 1:55.52 at the Olympics
still stands as a British and Commonwealth Record.
Following Athens, Parry contemplated competing at the Commonwealth
Games in Melbourne next March but a back injury coupled with
commitments generated while out of the water recovering forced
the athlete to rethink.
"I will definitely continue to stay involved in the
sport. I love sharing my knowledge and experience with the
youth of today and in particular it would be amazing to help
produce and give guidance to future Olympians.
"My Total Swimming venture and the swim clinics I conduct
throughout the country will continue and I've also signed
up with fellow Scouse Olympic medallist Steve Smith (high
jump) to deliver motivational work to corporations.
"I'll also be involved in passing on the things I've
learnt at Speedo swim clinics for kids all over the country."
National Performance Director Bill Sweetenham reflected to
Steve's contribution to swimming over the years and thinks
he will be a hard act to follow.
"Steve is the epitome of persistence. To be able to
stay in the sport as long as he has and win an Olympic medal
in your final year says a lot about the resilience and drive
of the athlete," said Sweetenham.
"He sets the standard for others to aspire to. His leadership
qualities will be missed on every team - he's a natural born
leader and his shoes won't easily be filled."
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