MARK FOSTER, one of the most successful British swimmers of modern times, will today announce his retirement from the sport. The 35-year-old, who hopes to add to his two Commonwealth gold medals when the Games start on Wednesday in Melbourne, has called a press conference to reveal that he will remove his goggles for the last time after next month’s World Short-Course Championships.
“I have had an incredible career,” Foster told me. “I have achieved almost everything that I set out to. My only regret is the lack of an Olympic medal, but that is partly compensated for by the 46 international medals I have won for my country over the last two decades.”
I met the world short-course champion yesterday over an al fresco coffee on the perimeter of the athletes’ village. Despite his obvious passion for his sport, he is convinced that it is time to walk away. “I wanted to get out in my own time and on my own terms,” he said. “I have to look for fresh challenges. The only thing that I can say with certainty about the future is that I will continue to work with Speedo [his sponsor] and stay in shape.”
Foster competed in his first Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in 1986, thus beginning a love affair that continues to this day. “The Commonwealth Games are something else,” he said. “I was captivated by my experiences in Edinburgh, largely because of the camaraderie. You do not get that atmosphere anywhere else. Winning a bronze in the relay in Edinburgh also transformed my attitude to swimming. I started to believe that I could really achieve something.
“The ambience here in Melbourne is in keeping with the great traditions of the Games. The only major difference is that the facilities have been transformed beyond recognition. The food hall and the accommodation in the village are awesome. This is easily the best village that I have lived in.”
Foster, who has won six world short-course titles and set seven world short-course records, was encouraged to take up swimming by his father. “My Dad never learnt how to swim so he was determined that I should have an opportunity to enjoy the water,” Foster said. “But it was my mother who got up morning after morning to take me to the 5am training sessions.”
The Bath-based sprinter will compete in both the 50 metres freestyle and the 50m butterfly in Melbourne and is in with a good chance of a medal, possibly two. “The competition is tough,” he said. “Roland Schoeman from South Africa [the world champion over 50m freestyle] will be a very difficult man to beat. I will have to be at my very best. But this is what I love most: going head-to-head for big titles.”
Preparation has been hampered by a minor back injury that Foster suffered during his build-up while training near Los Angeles. “I was doing some leg presses and I felt a twinge,” he said. “I saw two chiropractors and one physiotherapist in the States but they could not sort it out. Since coming to Melbourne I have had help from one of the England team physios and now I feel back on track.
Despite the injury, Foster believes that the training in the US was of huge benefit. “America is the best place in the world to train,” he said. “I did seven weeks between September and November and six more weeks after January. They have the best facilities and the smartest coaches.” Foster paid for the training in the United States out of his own pocket.
Preparing in California has advantages that extend beyond the swimming pool. Through a friend in the film industry, Foster received an invitation to the recent Oscars ceremony and Sir Elton John’s renowned party afterwards. “An unforgettable night, strolling along the red carpet and meeting the superstars,” Foster said. “I had a glance at a few magazines afterwards and there I am in the background of some photos.”
It did not take long for Foster to reveal the bitterest disappointment of his long career. “Not going to the Olympic Games in Athens was sickening,” he said. Foster failed “by a few hundredths of a second” to meet the exacting qualifying time set by Bill Sweetenham, the performance director of British Swimming.
His differences with Sweetenham are well known but Foster made it clear that he was not in Melbourne to criticise. “I need to keep my mind fully on the job in hand,” he said. “Besides, the best way to get at people is by winning. It would be a great way to retire.”
HIGHS AND LOWS
1983: Left Millfield School under a cloud when Paddy Garrett, his coach, refused any longer to train the boy “who could not get up in the morning”
1990: Won bronze medal at Commonwealth Games over 50 metres freestyle and retired
1990-91: worked in an office, as a courier, groundsman, lifeguard, double-glazing fitter and chauffeur
1992: Returned to swimming and finished sixth over 50m freestyle in Barcelona, which remains the best Olympic result of his career
1993: Wins inaugural world short-course title, 50m freestyle; sets first of four world short-course records over 50m freestyle
1994: Commonwealth champion over 50m freestyle
1995: Suspended for three months after testing positive for cannabis in France; sets first of three world short-course records over 50m butterfly
1996: Finishes seventh in Olympic final over 50m freestyle
1997: Wins silver medals over 50m freestyle at World Short-Course Championships and European Long-Course Championships
1998: Retains Commonwealth 50m freestyle title
1999: Regains world short-course 50m freestyle title and wins inaugural 50m butterfly title
2000: Retains both world short-course titles; sent home early with a reprimand from the British Olympic Association after wearing private sponsor’s branding
2001: Loses European short-course crown after failing to make the start of the 50m freestyle in time
2002: Loses world short-course title; loses Commonwealth crown, finishing third over 50m freestyle
2003: Failed to qualify for the World Long-course Championships but allowed to join Great Britain by Bill Sweetenham on condition he delivered a medal. He did, a silver in the finest 50m performance of his career
2004: Failed to qualify for the Olympics and falls out of the world top 20 long-course rankings for the first time in ten years; wins world short-course title over 50m freestyle
2005: Fails to qualify for the World Championships; loses British long-course record over 50m freestyle to Simon Burnett; wins European short-course 50m freestyle crown
2006: Announces retirement on eve of Commonwealth Games to fulfil a promise made in The Times in October 2004
