View source for Mark Foster (swimmer)

{{short description|British swimmer}}
{{For|other people named Mark Foster|Mark Foster (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox swimmer
| name           = Mark Foster
| image          = Mark_foster_swimmer.jpg
| image_size     = 
| alt            = 
| caption        = Foster in 2005
| fullname       = Mark Andrew Foster
| national_team  = Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| strokes        = [[Freestyle swimming|Freestyle]], [[Butterfly stroke|Butterfly]]
| club           = University of Bath SC
| coach          = 
| collegeteam    = 
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1970|05|12|df=yes}}
| birth_place    = [[Billericay|Billericay, England]]
| death_date     = 
| death_place    = 
| height         = {{convert|1.98|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight         = {{convert|90|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport | Men's swimming}}
{{MedalCountry | Great Britain}}
{{MedalCount
|[[FINA World Aquatics Championships|World Championships (LC)]]|0|1|1
|[[FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|World Championships (SC)]]|6|4|3
|[[LEN European Aquatics Championships|European Championships (LC)]]|0|1|3
|[[European Short Course Swimming Championships|European Championships (SC)]]|11|6|7
|[[Swimming at the Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]|2|1|5
|'''Total'''|'''19'''|'''13'''|'''19'''
}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[FINA World Aquatics Championships|World Championships (LC)]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[Swimming at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships|2003 Barcelona]] | [[Swimming at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[Swimming at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships|2001 Fukuoka]] | [[Swimming at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|World Championships (SC)]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[1993 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|1993 Palma]] | [[1993 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1999 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|1999 Hong Kong]] | [[1999 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold | 1999 Hong Kong | [[1999 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2000 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|2000 Athens]] | [[2000 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold | 2000 Athens | [[2000 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2004 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|2004 Indianapolis]] | [[2004 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalSilver| [[1997 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|1997 Gothenburg]] | [[1997 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[2002 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|2002 Moscow]] | [[2002 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 2004 Indianapolis | [[2004 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[2008 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|2008 Manchester]] | [[2008 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalBronze| 1993 Palma | [[1993 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) – Men's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalBronze| 1997 Gothenburg | [[1997 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) – Men's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalBronze| 2002 Moscow | [[2002 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[LEN European Aquatics Championships|European Championships (LC)]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[1997 European Aquatics Championships|1997 Seville]] | [[Swimming at the 1997 European Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[1993 European Aquatics Championships|1993 Sheffield]] | [[Swimming at the 1993 European Aquatics Championships – Men's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[1999 European Aquatics Championships|1999 Istanbul]] | [[Swimming at the 1997 European Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[2000 European Aquatics Championships|2000 Helsinki]] | [[Swimming at the 2000 European Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[European Short Course Swimming Championships|European Championships (SC)]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1992 European Sprint Swimming Championships|1992 Espoo]] | [[1992 European Sprint Swimming Championships – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1996 European Short Course Swimming Championships|1996 Rostock]] | [[1996 European Short Course Swimming Championships – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold | 1996 Rostock | [[1996 European Short Course Swimming Championships – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1998 European Short Course Swimming Championships|1998 Sheffield]] | [[1998 European Short Course Swimming Championships – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1999 European Short Course Swimming Championships|1999 Lisbon]] | [[1999 European Short Course Swimming Championships – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2000 European Short Course Swimming Championships|2000 Valencia]] | [[2000 European Short Course Swimming Championships – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2003 European Short Course Swimming Championships|2003 Dublin]] | [[2003 European Short Course Swimming Championships – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold | 2003 Dublin | [[2003 European Short Course Swimming Championships – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2004 European Short Course Swimming Championships|2004 Vienna]] | [[2004 European Short Course Swimming Championships – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold | 2004 Vienna | [[2004 European Short Course Swimming Championships – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2005 European Short Course Swimming Championships|2005 Trieste]] | [[2005 European Short Course Swimming Championships – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 1998 Sheffield | [[1998 European Short Course Swimming Championships – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 1998 Sheffield | [[1998 European Short Course Swimming Championships – Men's 4 × 50 metre freestyle relay|4×50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 2000 Valencia | [[2000 European Short Course Swimming Championships – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[2001 European Short Course Swimming Championships|2001 Antwerp]] | [[2001 European Short Course Swimming Championships – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 2001 Antwerp | [[2001 European Short Course Swimming Championships – Men's 4 × 50 metre  medley relay|4×50 m medley]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 2005 Trieste | [[2005 European Short Course Swimming Championships – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalBronze | 1992 Espoo | [[1992 European Sprint Swimming Championships – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalBronze | 1996 Rostock | [[1996 European Short Course Swimming Championships – Men's 4 × 50 metre  medley relay|4×50 m medley]]}}
{{MedalBronze | 1998 Sheffield | [[1998 European Short Course Swimming Championships – Men's 4 × 50 metre  medley relay|4×50 m medley]]}}
{{MedalBronze | 1999 Lisbon | [[1999 European Short Course Swimming Championships – Men's 4 × 50 metre  medley relay|4×50 m medley]]}}
{{MedalBronze | 2000 Valencia | [[2000 European Short Course Swimming Championships – Men's 4 × 50 metre freestyle relay|4×50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalBronze | 2005 Trieste | [[2005 European Short Course Swimming Championships – Men's 4 × 50 metre  medley relay|4×50 m medley]]}}
{{MedalBronze | 2005 Trieste | [[2005 European Short Course Swimming Championships – Men's 4 × 50 metre freestyle relay|4×50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{ENG}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Swimming at the Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[Swimming at the 1994 Commonwealth Games|1994 Victoria]] | [[Swimming at the 1994 Commonwealth Games – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[Swimming at the 1998 Commonwealth Games|1998 Kuala Lumpur]] | [[Swimming at the 1998 Commonwealth Games – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalSilver| [[Swimming at the 1990 Commonwealth Games|1990 Auckland]] | [[Swimming at the 1990 Commonwealth Games – Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalBronze| [[Swimming at the 1986 Commonwealth Games|1986 Edinburgh]] | [[Swimming at the 1986 Commonwealth Games – Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalBronze| 1990 Auckland | [[Swimming at the 1990 Commonwealth Games – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalBronze| 1994 Victoria | [[Swimming at the 1994 Commonwealth Games – Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalBronze| [[Swimming at the 2002 Commonwealth Games|2002 Manchester]] | [[Swimming at the 2002 Commonwealth Games – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalBronze| 2002 Manchester | [[Swimming at the 1998 Commonwealth Games – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]]}}
}}

'''Mark Andrew Foster''' (born 12 May 1970) is an English former competitive [[swimming (sport)|swimmer]] who represented Great Britain in the Olympics and world championships, and swam for England in the Commonwealth Games.  Foster is a former world champion and won multiple medals in international competition during his long career.  He competed primarily in [[butterfly stroke|butterfly]] and [[freestyle swimming|freestyle]] at 50 metres.

Foster is a specialist short-course (25 metre pool) swimmer. In terms of medals and longevity (1986–2008), he is amongst the most successful British swimmers of all time. He was the fastest swimmer in the country by age 15. He made a comeback at the national championships in July 2007 winning both events he competed in after barely training.<ref name="markfoster.co.uk">[http://www.markfoster.co.uk/factfile/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502192029/http://www.markfoster.co.uk/factfile/|date=2 May 2009}}</ref> He achieved the fifth best time in 2007 in the world at 50 metres freestyle{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} and retired for the second time after the 2008 Olympics. He has six [[World Swimming Championships|World Championship]] titles, two [[Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth]] titles and eleven European titles to his name.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mark Foster: I know winning isn't everything |url=http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/355225/Mark-Foster-I-know-winning-isn-t-everything |work=[[Daily Express]]|date=30 October 2012|access-date=30 January 2014}}</ref>

== Early career ==

Foster was born in [[Billericay]], [[Essex]], and was first taught by Ann Hardcastle, the mother of [[Sarah Hardcastle]], at a pool in [[Southend-on-Sea]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Lamont, Tom|title=Local heroes: Mark Foster|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/feb/01/swimming|work=[[The Observer]]|date=1 February 2009|access-date=17 August 2012}}</ref> He was the fastest swimmer in the country by age 15.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/swimming/7542961.stm |title= Foster plans first Olympic medal |access-date=5 August 2008 |work=BBC News |date=5 August 2008 }}</ref>

Foster was educated at Alleyn Court Preparatory School in [[Westcliff on Sea]], [[Millfield School]], [[Kelly College]] and [[Southend High School for Boys]] where he excelled in athletics, football and tennis.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}.

== National Championships ==
Foster dominated the short distances in the National Championships winning the [[British Swimming Championships - 50 metres freestyle winners|50 metres freestyle]] title 14 times from 1986 until 2004 <ref>{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0503042212/GDCS?u=oxfshlib&sid=GDCS&xid=0da03d53|title="Mother is the inspiration." Times, 2 June 1986, p. 38|newspaper=The Times|date=2 June 1986|page=38|publisher=Times Digital Archive}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0503114388/GDCS?u=oxfshlib&sid=GDCS&xid=060befb4|title=Moor, Roy. "Lee snatches title with exhilarating late surge." Times, 3 Aug. 1987, p. 31|newspaper=The Times|date=3 August 1987|page=31|publisher=Times Digital Archive|last1=Moor|first1=Roy}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0503198546/GDCS?u=oxfshlib&sid=GDCS&xid=e0a420a1|title="Results from Leeds." Times, 1 Aug. 1988, p. 31|newspaper=The Times|date=August 1988|page=31|publisher=Times Digital Archive}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0503321304/GDCS?u=oxfshlib&sid=GDCS&xid=524a0249|title="For the Record." Times, 13 June 1992, p. 43|newspaper=The Times|date=13 June 1992|page=43|publisher=Times Digital Archive}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0503410829/GDCS?u=oxfshlib&sid=GDCS&xid=46a1700d|title="For the Record." Times, 22 July 1995, p. 39|newspaper=The Times|date=22 July 1995|page=39}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0500145516/GDCS?u=oxfshlib&sid=GDCS&xid=c67851e8|title="For the Record." Times, 19 July 1997, p. 47|newspaper=The Times|date=19 July 1997|page=47}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0500893271/GDCS?u=oxfshlib&sid=GDCS&xid=16c4428f|title="For the Record." Times, 11 July 1998, p. 40|newspaper=The Times|date=11 July 1998|page=40}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0500235694/GDCS?u=oxfshlib&sid=GDCS&xid=90f4b823|title="For the Record." Times, 12 July 1999, p. 43|newspaper=The Times|date=12 July 1999|page=43}}</ref><ref name=free00>{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0502647877/GDCS?u=oxfshlib&sid=GDCS&xid=088aa896|title="For the record." Times, 27 July 2000, p. ^|newspaper=The Times|date=27 July 2000}}</ref> and the [[British Swimming Championships - 50 metres butterfly winners|50 metres butterfly]] title ten times from 1992 until 2002.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0501985630/GDCS?u=oxfshlib&sid=GDCS&xid=d41a0f34|title="For the Record." Times, 11 June 1993, p. 42|newspaper=The Times|date=11 June 1993|page=42|publisher=Times Digital Archive}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0502137632/GDCS?u=oxfshlib&sid=GDCS&xid=e57d41ae|title="For the Record." Times, 24 July 1995, p. 28|newspaper=The Times|date=24 July 1995|page=28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0501262636/GDCS?u=oxfshlib&sid=GDCS&xid=79de097c|title="For the Record." Times, 13 July 1998, p. 39|newspaper=The Times|date=13 July 1998|page=39}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0500235694/GDCS?u=oxfshlib&sid=GDCS&xid=90f4b823|title="For the Record." Times, 12 July 1999, p. 43|newspaper=The Times|date=12 July 1999|page=43}}</ref>

== International career ==

First selected for the British team in 1985, Foster's breakthrough came in 1990 when he won his first individual international medal - bronze - in the [[1990 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]] in [[Auckland]]. He finished the 50 metres freestyle with a time of 23.16 seconds. He had previously won bronze as part of the 100 metre freestyle relay in the [[1986 Commonwealth Games|Edinburgh]] games four years previous, but cites the 1990 medal as his first great sporting moment.<ref name="markfoster.co.uk"/>

Success followed rapidly and in the next few years, Foster broke the [[World record progression 50 metres freestyle|World Short Course freestyle record]] four times, the World Short Course butterfly record twice, and set the World Long Course butterfly record (in 1996) with a time of 24.07 seconds.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 March 1996 |title=MARK FOSTER BREAKS BUTTERFLY LONG COURSE RECORD |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/mark-foster-breaks-butterfly-long-course-record-1344391.html |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=INDEPENDENT}}</ref>

Foster trained at [[The Race Club]], a Florida swim camp founded by Olympic Swimmers [[Gary Hall, Jr.]] and his father, [[Gary Hall, Sr.]] The Race Club, originally known as "The World Team," was designed to serve as a training group for elite swimmers across the world in preparation for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. To be able to train with the Race Club, one must either have been ranked in the top 20 in the world the past 3 calendar years or top 3 in their nation in the past year. The Race Club included such well known swimmers as Foster, [[Roland Mark Schoeman]], [[Ryk Neethling]], and [[Therese Alshammar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theraceclub.net/mission-statement/history/world-team/ |title=The World Team |publisher=The Race Club |access-date=29 June 2012}}</ref>

Despite success at Commonwealth, European and World championship level mostly at short courses, [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] titles eluded him and he has never won a medal.

In 2004, Foster faced the disappointment of not being selected for the [[2004 Athens Olympics|Olympic Games]]. At the British Olympic Trials, he won the 50 free in 22.49 seconds, well under the Olympic qualifying standard but seven hundredths of a second below the standard National Team Director [[Bill Sweetenham]] had set for inclusion in the British Olympic Team. Foster has openly criticised Sweetenham's management style and Sweetenham ensured that he was not selected.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Aldred |first=Tanya |date=2004-05-06 |title=Foster pleads his Olympic case |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2004/may/06/athensolympics2004.olympicgames |access-date=2024-04-23 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Nonetheless, Foster responded to his omission from the Olympic squad with a gold medal in the World Short Course Championships in [[Indianapolis]] later that year. In the 50 metre freestyle, he achieved 21.58 seconds, ahead of [[Stefan Nystrand]] of [[Sweden]]. Although Foster announced his retirement from swimming after the European short course championships in April 2006 at the age of 35, he still occasionally competed that year at invitational meets.

[[File:Mark Foster, October 2008.jpg|thumb|Foster at the parade in London to celebrate the achievements of British competitors at the [[2008 Summer Olympics]].]]

Foster returned from "retirement" in 2007 with an aim to win an Olympic medal at the [[2008 Olympic Games]]. Returning to the British squad he won a silver medal in the 50 m freestyle at the [[2008 FINA Short Course World Championships]], and qualified to represent Great Britain at the same distance in the Olympics.  At the opening ceremony on 8 August, he [[List of flag bearers for Great Britain at the Olympics|carried the flag for Great Britain]] during the Parade of Nations.  He failed to qualify for the men's 50&nbsp;m freestyle semi-finals, finishing almost two-tenths of a second outside the top 16.<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/aug/14/olympics2008.olympicsaquatics6 | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=Olympics: Foster crashes out of 50m freestyle | date=14 August 2008 | access-date=12 May 2010}}</ref>

== Charity work ==

In May 2009, Foster became patron of [http://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk The Anaphylaxis Campaign], the UK charity for people with severe allergies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jaguaracademyofsport.co.uk/the-academy/ambassadors/mark-foster.aspx |title=Mark Foster - Jaguar Academy of Sport |access-date=22 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516170114/http://www.jaguaracademyofsport.co.uk/the-academy/ambassadors/mark-foster.aspx |archive-date=16 May 2013 }}</ref> He won £10,000 for the campaign by participating in [[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?]], broadcast on ITV on 8 September 2009.  In 1999, Foster's friend, Scottish athlete [[Ross Baillie]] died from anaphylaxis shortly after the pair had  gone out for lunch.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/371534.stm |title=Peanut allergy athlete dies |access-date=29 December 2011 |work=BBC News |date=18 June 1999}}</ref>

In October 2008, Foster was a celebrity judge for the Miele Fashion Prize, in aid of children's medical charity, [http://www.sparks.org.uk Sparks].<ref>[http://www.markfoster.co.uk/articles/mark-foster-announced-as-celebrity-judge-for-fashion-prize] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090908193736/http://www.markfoster.co.uk/articles/mark-foster-announced-as-celebrity-judge-for-fashion-prize|date=8 September 2009}}</ref>

In June 2009, Foster supported ActionAid's [https://web.archive.org/web/20090905025503/http://www.actionaid.org.uk/poverteeday/ PoverTee Day] by having a T-shirt painted on his torso.<ref>[http://www.markfoster.co.uk/articles/olympian-mark-foster-gets-it-off-his-chest-for-povertee-day] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704074139/http://www.markfoster.co.uk/articles/olympian-mark-foster-gets-it-off-his-chest-for-povertee-day|date=4 July 2009}}</ref>

Foster is also an ambassador for the UK charity SportsAid, which supported him in the early days of his career, helping talented young sports people to achieve their ambitions.

== Awards ==
In 2016, Foster became an Honorary Doctor of Health Sciences at [[Anglia Ruskin University]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mark Foster - ARU |url=https://aru.ac.uk/graduation-and-alumni/honorary-award-holders2/mark-foster |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=aru.ac.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-10-05 |title=Kylie To Receive Honorary Doctorate For Breast Cancer Awareness |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/10/05/breast-cancer-awareness-k_n_995501.html |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=HuffPost UK |language=en}}</ref>

== Media appearances ==
In the year 2000, he made a guest appearance on the first series of ''[[Techno Games]]''.

On 4 April 2008, Foster appeared on the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] show ''[[Beat the Star]]'' in which he won 18-3, appearing as the 'star'. On 20 May 2008, he appeared as a guest home owner on the [[BBC Two]] show ''[[Through the Keyhole]]''.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}

In the Summer of 2008, he appeared on the new series of ''[[Superstars (British TV programme)|Superstars]]''  on [[Channel 5 (UK)|Channel 5]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}

In December 2008, Foster appeared on a ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]'' special of ''[[The Weakest Link (British game show)|The Weakest Link]]'' in December 2008,  beating [[Anton du Beke]] in the final round. He had previously appeared on an Olympic special, but did not win.

On 12 February 2009, Foster co-presented ''[[BBC Look East]]'''s 6.30&nbsp;pm bulletin, with Susie Fowler-Watt.

Foster was a contestant on the BBC One programme ''[[Let's Dance for Comic Relief|Let's Dance for Sport Relief]]'' as a member of the dance group 'The Olympians'.

Foster regularly appears on BBC TV regional news and local radio in his role of Ambassador of Pools 4 Schools, a programme run by Total Swimming with the [[Amateur Swimming Association]] to increase participation in swimming amongst primary school children.

Foster appears in advertisements for Wellman nutritional products.

On 23 March 2012, Foster made a guest appearance on [[ITV2]]'s  ''[[Celebrity Juice]]''.

On 27 July 2012, Foster appeared on a Paralympic special of the [[Channel 4]] game show ''[[The Million Pound Drop]]'' with ''[[Countdown (game show)|Countdown]]'' presenter [[Rachel Riley]].

Foster often appears as an analyst for BBC Sport's coverage of Swim meets.

In November 2023, Foster participated in Series 7, Week 8 of [[Richard Osman's House of Games]].

==''Strictly Come Dancing''==

Foster competed in the [[Strictly Come Dancing (series 6)|sixth series]] of ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]'' with professional dancer [[Hayley Holt]]. He was voted off by the judges in the dance-off on week 6. He participated in the ''Strictly Come Dancing'' arena tour in 2012, dancing with [[Natalie Lowe]].

{| class="wikitable" style="float:left;"
|- style="text-align:Center; background:#ccc;"
| rowspan="2"|'''Week #'''
| rowspan="2"|'''Dance'''/'''Song'''
| colspan="5"|'''Judges' score'''
| rowspan="2"|'''Result'''
|- style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"
| style="width:10%; "|Horwood
| style="width:10%; "|Phillips
| style="width:10%; "|Goodman
| style="width:10%; "|Tonioli
| style="width:10%; "|Total
|- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;"
| |1
| |[[Waltz]] / [[Tennessee Waltz]]
| |3
| |6
| |7
| |6
| |22
| |Safe
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;"|3
| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;"|[[Digimon|Tango]] / Tanguera
| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;"|5
| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;"|5
| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;"|7
| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;"|7
| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;"|24
| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;"|Bottom Two/Saved
|- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;"
| |5
| |[[Samba]] / [[Spice Up Your Life]]
| |3
| |4
| |5
| |5
| |17
| |Safe
|- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;"
| |6
| |[[Paso Doble]] / [[Since U Been Gone]]
| |2
| |4
| |5
| |5
| |16
| |Bottom Two/Eliminated
|}
{{clear left}}

== Personal bests and records held ==

; Long course (50 m)

{{swimmingpersonalrecordlisttop|meet=yes}}

{{swimmingrecord
| eventsort = 01
| event = 50&nbsp;m freestyle
| time = 21.96
| recordinfo = 
| date = {{Dts|format=dmy|2008|Jun|21}}
| country = CRO
| city = Zagreb
| meet = Golden Bear
| ref =<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportcentric.com/vsite/vcontent/content/news/0,10869,5157-183729-200947-43502-286342-news-item,00.html |title=Foster Breaks 50m Freestyle Record |access-date=17 August 2008 |publisher=[[British Swimming]] |date=21 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721181000/http://www.sportcentric.com/vsite/vcontent/content/news/0,10869,5157-183729-200947-43502-286342-news-item,00.html |archive-date=21 July 2011 }}</ref>
}}
{{swimmingrecord
| eventsort = 02
| event = 100&nbsp;m freestyle
| time = 51.67
| recordinfo =
| date = {{Dts|format=dmy|1994|Aug|18}}
| country = CAN
| city = Victoria, British Columbia
| meet = [[1994 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
| ref =
}}
{{swimmingrecord
| eventsort = 03
| event = 50&nbsp;m butterfly
| time = 23.51
| recordinfo = 
| date = {{Dts|format=dmy|2003|June|8}}
| country = CRO
| city = Zagreb
| meet = Golden Bear
| ref =<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/foster-flies-in-zagreb-x06w9sn8b9s|title=Foster flies in Zagreb|last1=Lord|first1=by Craig}}</ref>
}}
{{end}}

; Short course (25 m)

{{swimmingpersonalrecordlisttop|meet=yes}}
{{swimmingrecord
| eventsort = 01
| event = 50&nbsp;m freestyle
| time = 21.13
| recordinfo = NR
| date = {{Dts|format=dmy|2001|Jan|28}}
| country = FRA
| city = Paris
| meet = World Cup
| ref =
}}
{{swimmingrecord
| eventsort = 02
| event = 100&nbsp;m freestyle
| time = 49.65
| recordinfo =
| date = {{Dts|format=dmy|1993|Dec|02}}
| country = ESP
| city = Palma de Mallorca
| meet = [[1993 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|World SC Championships]]
| ref =
}}
{{swimmingrecord
| eventsort = 03
| event = 50&nbsp;m butterfly
| time = 22:87
| recordinfo = NR
| date = {{Dts|format=dmy|2001|Jan|17}}
| country = UK
| city = Sheffield
| meet = World Cup
| ref =
}}
{{end}}
{{swimmingrecordlegend|WR=yes|ER=yes|CR=yes|nation=British}}

== Personal life ==
In 2002 Foster lived in Bath, UK, sharing a flat with former 110m hurdles Olympic silver medallist and World champion athlete [[Colin Jackson]].<ref  name="indie">{{cite news|last1=Viner|first1=Brian|date=29 June 2002|title=Swimming: Foster attacks treadmill of 'boring' British swimming|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/swimming-foster-attacks-treadmill-of-boring-british-swimming-182084.html|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=24 February 2015}}</ref>

In November 2017, Foster [[came out as gay]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/nov/27/mark-foster-come-out-gay-swimming-interview|title=Mark Foster: 'I tiptoed around in the shadows for so long, but now is the time to come out'|date=27 November 2017|website=The Guardian}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[2008 Summer Olympics national flag bearers]]
* [[List of Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming (men)]]
* [[List of LGBT Olympians]]
* [[World record progression 50 metres butterfly]]
* [[World record progression 50 metres freestyle]]

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links ==
* {{sports links}}
* {{Official website|http://www.markfoster.co.uk}}
* [http://www.swimming.org/britishswimming/swimming/mens-profiles/mark-foster/ British Swimming athlete profile]
* [http://www.olympics.org.uk/athleterecord.aspx?at=1290 British Olympic Association athlete profile]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/swimming/video_masterclasses/newsid_2134000/2134309.stm Mark Foster's swimming masterclass (BBC)]
* [http://195.184.236.5/historic/historic2.php?tiref=5957 British Swimming results and rankings database entry]{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [http://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk The Anaphylaxis Campaign]
* [http://www.theraceclub.net The Race Club]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100731150542/http://intothespotlight.co.uk/#/mark-foster/4548269626 Interview with Mark Foster]

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|rec}}
{{succession box|before=<br>[[Steve Crocker (swimmer)|Steve Crocker]]<br>[[Alexander Popov (swimmer)|Alexander Popov]]<br>[[Anthony Ervin]]|title=[[World record progression 50 metres freestyle|Men's 50 metre freestyle<br>world record holder (short course)]]|years=17 February 1993 – 13 March 1994<br>13 December 1998 - 23 March 2000<br>28 January 2001 - 25 March 2004|after=<br> [[Alexander Popov (swimmer)|Alexander Popov]]<br>[[Roland Schoeman]]<br>[[Frédérick Bousquet]]}}
{{s-sports|oly}}
{{succession box
| before = [[Kate Howey]]
| title = [[List of flag bearers for Great Britain at the Olympics|Flagbearer]] for Great Britain
| years = [[2008 Summer Olympics|Beijing 2008]]
| after = [[Chris Hoy]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Footer World SC Champions 50m Freestyle Men}}
{{Footer World SC Champions 50m Butterfly Men}}
{{Footer European SC Champions 50m Freestyle Men}}
{{Footer European SC Champions 50m Butterfly Men}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 50m Freestyle Men}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Foster, Mark}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for England]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for England]]
[[Category:English male freestyle swimmers]]
[[Category:British male freestyle swimmers]]
[[Category:English male butterfly swimmers]]
[[Category:British male butterfly swimmers]]
[[Category:World record setters in swimming]]
[[Category:People educated at Millfield]]
[[Category:Olympic swimmers for Great Britain]]
[[Category:People from Billericay]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Southend-on-Sea]]
[[Category:English gay sportsmen]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 1986 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 1990 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 1994 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 1998 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2002 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:People educated at Alleyn Court School]]
[[Category:People educated at Southend High School for Boys]]
[[Category:World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:Medalists at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)]]
[[Category:European Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming]]
[[Category:Team Bath swimmers]]
[[Category:LGBTQ swimmers]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1986 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1990 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1994 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1998 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2002 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:English sports broadcasters]]