Michael Wright

Michael started his swimming at the Ladies Recreation Club (LRC) with Captain Wright and his crew which was conveniently located across the road from his Primary and Junior schools and a short walk home. Group training was fun, though he was generally at the back of the group with the odd early results which were all in Breaststroke.

 

Boarding school changed everything. As the only student in his year able to swim Butterfly,  he had  no choice in the matter. Freestyle and Butterfly took over his High School years under Coach Ralph White (his daughter Cathy White OLY – Team GB and England Backstroke swimmer). Rugby, Cricket,  Athletics and Cross Country were also compulsory sports.  Post High School he swam a short period with Hartlepool ASC which proved to be the turning point from school to squad level training.

 

Following on from High School he had three years with Middlesborough ASC whilst studying Business & Financial Studies – Leisure Management. Sprint Freestyle results started to crop up, with North Eastern County’s sprint champion award as a highlight.

 

During an Easter break back in Hong Kong, he dropped into WanChai Swimming Pool for a swim. As he finished his session and climbed  out of the pool, he was asked if he would I be interested in coming back later to train in a group setting. Well that was Coach Dave Haller MBE which led to  training with him and the National Team at the Jubilee Sports Centre / HKASA Squad.

 

On returning to HK after university, Michael  started a more focused long term training plan at the Jubilee Sports Centre with Coach Haller, assisted by Coach Chan Yui Hoi and Coach Henry Chan.  He joined Marlins Aquatic Club who were based at the JSC and later started some squad coaching with them shortly after.

 

Under the Sport Development Board SDB and JSC Scholarship Programme, Michael became a member in the various squads over time. The SDB/HK Sports Institute also encouraged athletes to study for a University of Canberra degree course which was a  huge boost for HK sport, with the course being filled with a wide range of athletes and staff. The course was unique in that it covered each subject module separately.

 

With the departure of Coach Haller back to the UK and the arrival of Coach Bill Sweetenham AM at the HKSI, the structure changed and developed further. The immense value of the broad knowledge base of being actively coached and also to observe and learn under two of the worlds most successful swimming coaches cannot be measured. For that. Michael is forever thankful to  them both. A huge debt of heartfelt thanks is also felt for the  Coaching, Medical and Management staff of the JSC/SDB/HKSI that made his Swimming Career possible.

 

Upon retirement from competitive swimming, Michael moved to South Africa where he coached at Tuks (University of Pretoria) and then became the Club Manager. Tuks ran  satellite programmes across the more rural towns in South Africa and peaking at around 350 competitive members. Multiple national championships club winners.

 

Michael now resides and works in Ireland.