Parker won a bronze medal in the 1500 m freestyle at the 1975 World Aquatics Championships.

[1] In the preliminaries of the 1976 Summer Olympics he improved the national record in the same event by seven seconds, yet failed to qualify.

[2][3] He won the 1975 and 1976 ASA British National 1500 metres freestyle title [4][5][6] In 1976 he won a swimming scholarship at the University of Miami, but after half a year returned to UK, retired from swimming, and for two years worked with the police.

[7] In May 2010 he sold the company and his flat to return to Coventry, but died of a heart attack.

[2] He was survived by twin brother Gareth and sister Ann, also former competitive swimmers, and their parents Dennis and Lilian.