Rene Appel, the only coach to lead a Hong Kong athlete to Olympic gold, bows out
Dutchman remains the only person to guide a Hong Kong athlete to Olympic Games glory when Lee Lai-shan triumphed in Atlanta in 1996
The only coach to guide a Hong Kong athlete to an Olympic gold medal, Rene Appel, has left windsurfing officials with big shoes to fill after deciding not to renew his contract with the Sports Institute.
The Dutchman, who came to Hong Kong in 1989, will leave the elite training centre in Fo Tan when his contract expires in March.
Appel helped Lee Lai-shan win Olympic gold at the Atlanta Games in 1996. Before that, he guided Lee to silver at the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing, a first for the sport at the Asiad. Three years later, she won the World Championships, another first.
Rene Appel has done an exceptional job for windsurfing, not only for the Olympic gold medal, but also the long-term development work that has made Hong Kong a keen challenger at the world's highest level
At the most recent Asian Games in Incheon this year, the windsurfing team had their best ever results, two gold and two silver medals.
Cowen Chiu But-kau, president of the Hong Kong Windsurfing Association, paid tribute to Appel for raising the sport's standard to a world level.
"We want to put it on record Appel has done an exceptional job for windsurfing, not only for the Olympic gold medal, but also the long-term development work that has made Hong Kong a keen challenger at the world's highest level," said Chiu. "It's definitely a great loss to the sport but we respect his decision and wish him all the best in future."
It is believed the coach resigned to spend more time with his family after recently marrying. He turned down requests for comment.
