Chris Furber, Performance Director for canoe sprint and paracanoe, is set to leave Paddle UK after just over three years with the programme.
Joining the programme after the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, Chris helped to provide stability to the Olympic programme at a time when the events programme was changing to remove 200m events, where GB had seen significant medal success.
Under his guidance, the paracanoe programme has continued to remain as the world leading programme delivering 40 international medals from 2022 to 2024 and winning a record eight Paralympic medals at the Paris Games.
Since Paris, the canoe sprint programme has undergone significant change to build a more sustainable pathway for paddlers, working more closely with the club community and aligning pathway activities.
Chris Furber said:
“With some brilliant, knowledgeable and passionate staff now within the programmes, it feels the right time for me to move on. Leading the paracanoe team in Paris will forever be a career highlight but that is tempered against the disappointment of not being able to support the sprint paddlers in their dreams of competing at the 2024 Olympics Games.
“I’m looking forward to giving some time back to my family after three years working in Nottingham. I want to thank the programme staff and athletes I have been fortunate to work with, the Paddle UK staff who have supported me and those within the flatwater community who have been kind to me and I wish both programmes success in the future.”
Director of Paddlesport Keir Worth said
“On behalf of everyone at Paddle UK, I would like to thank Chris for all his hard work and commitment over the last three years.
“Through the inevitable ups, downs and challenges of a shortened Olympic and Paralympic cycle, Chris’s expertise has helped further strengthen our world leading paracanoe programme and begun to embed the foundations for success in sprint racing. We wish him well.”