Stephen Park

KEY FACTS

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Home town:

Titchfield, Hampshire, UK

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Known as ‘Sparky’ amongst those in the sailing fraternity

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Previous Olympic Games:

Attended in Sydney 2000 as 49er coach to silver medallists Ian Barker and Simon Hiscocks. Attended in Athens 2004 as the Team GBR Olympic Manager.

What does it mean to you to be part of Skandia Team GBR? "Everything!"

Profile

Stephen Park is the Olympic Manager for the British Olympic Sailing Team and is responsible for managing and implementing the RYA World Class Performance (WCP) programme. Stephen is also a member of the Olympic Steering Group (OSG), Paralympic Steering Group (PSG) and RYA World Class Performance Directorate. He has been in this role for five years.

Stephen was born in Glasgow, studied at the Scottish School of Physical Education. From there he went on to get a Diploma in Management Studies from Newcastle University and later a Masters degree in Recreational Management from Loughborough University. After completing his education, Stephen went on to work for the Royal Yachting Association Scotland (RYAS) and the Welsh Yachting Association (WYA).

Before becoming Olympic Manager, Stephen had experience of the Olympic Programme both as a sailor and coach. As a sailor he completed Olympic campaigns in both the 470 and Tornado disciplines for the 1992 and 1996 Games respectively. Following 1996, Stephen started working full-time on the RYA Olympic programme supporting John Derbyshire, the past Olympic Manager and overseeing the Olympic Development Squad.

As a key member of the successful Sydney 2000 Olympic Sailing Team, Stephen spent much of his time coaching the 49er squad, where Ian Barker and Simon Hiscocks won a silver medal in the 49er Class.

In 2004 Stephen led the British Olympic Sailing Team to the Athens Games, where his sailors won five medals at the Olympic Regatta. Stephen returned home as helm of Britain’s most successful Olympic sport.

Following this success, Stephen and the British Olympic Sailing Team went on to receive multiple awards within the sports industry, including a BBC South Sport Manager of the Year award.

Stephen continues to manage the Olympic Team as they campaign towards the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.