Olympic rower Jake Green is Singapore s first full time head coach since 2015

SINGAPORE – A trip to the Pandan Reservoir to see the national rowers in a training session was what convinced South African Jake Green to sign on the dotted line as head coach of the Singapore Rowing Association (SRA).

While in talks with SRA on the role, the Olympic rower travelled to Singapore last October for a first-hand look at the team.

Seeing the dedication of the athletes – who did not have a full-time coach then – sealed the decision for the 30-year-old, who competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the Tokyo Games in 2021.

In January, Green signed a two-year deal, with an option to extend and, in doing so, he is now SRA’s first full-time head coach since 2015.

“The willingness of the athletes to still come and train despite the fact that there has not been a head coach in the past, and balance that with their working life or school – that surprised me,” Green told The Straits Times.

“That kind of commitment to rowing where you are working hard even when the sun’s not up yet and there’s no one here watching you..., but you’re still here getting the work done, I was impressed. There’s a lot of potential, it’s very exciting to see all the commitment here.”

Previously, Irishman John Holland was hired on a short-term contract for the 2015 SEA Games and he continued on a part-time basis till the 2018 Asian Games.

Japanese coach Goken Sakamoto, who volunteered from 2012 to 2015, was the national coach on a consultant basis till end-2024.

SRA president Paul Supramaniam said Green was appointed after a two-year process, adding that he was picked ahead of several other candidates as he had “a willingness to roll up his sleeves, get his hands dirty and work