Mark Foster Wants To Set Pool Record in 2012

By Louisa Emery on February 25, 2011 2:28 PM |

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ff-feb24-mark foster142.JPG Olympic swimmer Mark Foster won't be competing in the 2012 games but he is still hoping to make an impact in the pool.

The five-time Olympian was in Canary Wharf on Thursday to launch the Freedom Back Clinic on North Colonnade.

He said: "I want to open the pool and set the pool record. It shouldn't be too hard if I'm the first one to swim in it.
"I laid the first tile so if there is a leak, I'll be to blame."

Mark, 40, said he never announced his retirement after the 2008 games in Beijing but his role in the London Olympics will be as an ambassador.

Mark said: "Everybody gets older on the outside but on the inside I'm a big kid and that big kid would have me swimming for 2012.

"I am jealous I won't be taking part but there has to be a point when I give up."
As an ambassador Mark is keen to get young people taking up what he says is still considered a minority sport.

He said: "I have had a wonderful experience as a swimmer. Sport brings people together and breaks down barriers.

ff-feb24-mark foster7.JPG

"I can remember running in the playground as a kid, playing bulldog and football. Kids have more distractions now. They have mobile phones, computers and television. I am not saying they shouldn't have these things but they should be used in moderation.

"It is all about making people aware of their bodies and educating kids on the problems such as obesity and heart disease."

Showing off his toned torso on the massage table, 6ft 6ins Mark spoke about his own injuries.

He said: "I had lots of niggles during my career. Before the 2006 Commonwealth Games I ripped muscles in my back. I have a long back so I have needed manipulation or massage in the past. As athletes, we are so in tune with our bodies because we have to be, any niggle has to be sorted out."

Mark reeled off eight names of "world class" women we should be watching out for in
2012 including Rebecca Adlington, Gemma Spofforth, Lizzie Simmonds and Hannah Miley.

He said the ladies team were "phenomenal" but there were also some great men to look out for including Liam Tancock, James Goddard and David Davis.

One man all eyes are sure to be on is Australian Ian Thorpe.

Mark said: "I'll be working with Ian Thorpe leading up to the Olympics, overlooking his training in the UK, hanging out with him here and looking after him.

"When he gets that gold medal I want to be able to say I got him that medal."