After joining Stockport Metro, he set a Commonwealth record at the 2000 US Nationals in Seattle, beating, among others, a very young Michael Phelps.

Four years later, in Athens, Greece, Parry won Britain's first Olympic swimming medal in eight years at the Athens Summer Olympics in 200-metres butterfly, being beaten by Michael Phelps and Takashi Yamamoto.

He represented England and won a bronze medal in the 200 metres butterfly event, at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

[1][2] Four years later he won a silver and bronze medal in the butterfly and relay events at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

[11] Parry was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to swimming.