Reedy to step down as interim lead coach, women’s sculling

Paul Reedy, who has coached at British Rowing since 2009, is leaving British Rowing to take up the role of Director of Performance at Putney High School

Paul Reedy, interim lead coach for women’s sculling, is leaving British Rowing to take up the role of Director of Performance at Putney High School. Reedy has coached for British Rowing since 2009.

Looking back on his British Rowing career,  Reedy said: “Turning up every day to work with people who are committed to achieving incredible goals has been my highlight. I’ve been privileged to work with some fantastic people through my time at British Rowing and they all put the same high levels of commitment into their work. Looking ahead, the new role is closer to home and will allow me to spend more time with the family. I’m looking forward to getting started in the new job.”

Reedy moved to the UK from Australia in 2001 when he began coaching at the London Rowing Club. He joined the GB Rowing Team as Lead Coach for Lightweight Women in 2009 and led Sophie Hosking and Kat Copeland to a fantastic gold medal win in the lightweight double sculls at the London 2012 Olympics.

Kat Copeland has fond memories of working with Reedy throughout her international rowing career: “​​Reedy coached me at two Olympic Games. His coaching is considered, creative and patient and he always puts the best interests of his athletes first which I really appreciated. He is a great person and a loss to British Rowing. I wish him all the best in his next coaching adventure.”

More recently, Reedy coached Vicky Thornley to a record fourth place finish at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, after helping her to secure the first Great Britain Olympic qualification for a female single sculler in 20years.

Looking back on her Tokyo 2020 journey with Reedy, Vicky Thornley said: “Reedy has always had an innate talent for coaching and an exceptional technical eye. He brings a really human touch to his coaching, that draws the best out of the athletes he works with.

On a personal level, the last five years working with Reedy has been everything I could have hoped for. We have travelled the ups and downs of the journey together, with full trust in one another. He has shaped me into the best athlete I could be, and I will be forever grateful for having had the opportunity to share the singles project with him. I wish him and his family all the best for whatever is next.”