Tim Foster

Timothy "Tim" James Carrington Foster, MBE (born 19 January 1970) is a British rower.

Career

He began rowing at Bedford Modern School and competed in the Junior World Rowing Championships in 1987 and 1988. In the latter he competed in a pair with Matthew Pinsent. He became the first British rower to win gold medals at two consecutive Junior Worlds. From there he proceeded into the senior squad.

In 1993 he underwent back surgery but was straight back in the boat for the 1994 season, winning Bronze in the coxless four at the World Championships. This boat stayed together until the 1996 Olympics, where they won Bronze.

Following his Olympic medal, he continued his university studies at Oxford, competing in the 1997 Boat Race.

In 1997 he won a seat in the coxless four alongside Steve Redgrave, Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell. In the run up to the Olympics, he again needed back surgery and time off after severing tendons in his hand by punching a window at a boat club party. In August 2000, the month prior to winning gold in Sydney, a three-part BBC documentary entitled Gold Fever was broadcast. This followed the coxless four team in the years leading up to the Olympics, including video diaries recording the highs and lows in the quest for gold. Despite the problems Foster had had, he was in the final crew and they won the gold medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. He was awarded an MBE for his part in this in 2001.

After Sydney, he retired from international rowing, and retired as an active rower in July 2001. After a stint coaching at the University of London Boat Club, he joined the UK Sport-sponsored Elite Coach Programme in 2004. In January 2007, he became the Head Coach of the Swiss national rowing squad. He remained in this role until 2012, and now works as a business coach.

Personal life

At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Foster proposed to Joy Fahrenkrog, a four-time member of the United States Archery Team. The pair met in 2000 while Joy was studying at the London School of Economics and rowing for the University of London Boat Club. His brother Jason is the Team Manager for the England Rowing Team and Head of Rowing at George Watsons College, Edinburgh.

Achievements

• Olympic Medals: 1 Gold, 1 Bronze
• World Championship Medals: 2 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze
• Junior World Championship Medals: 2 Gold
• Blue Boat Appearances: 1 (0 wins)

Olympic Games

• 2000: Gold, Coxless Four (with James Cracknell, Matthew Pinsent, Steve Redgrave)
• 1996: Bronze, Coxless Four
• 1992: 6th, Eight

World Championships

• 1999: Silver, Eight
• 1998: Gold, Coxless Four (with James Cracknell, Matthew Pinsent, Steve Redgrave)
• 1997: Gold, Coxless Four (with James Cracknell, Matthew Pinsent, Steve Redgrave)
• 1995: Silver, Coxless Four
• 1994: Bronze, Coxless Four
• 1993: Injured, did not compete in World Championships
• 1991: Bronze, Eight
• 1990: 4th, Coxless Four (with Martin Cross, Peter Mulkerrins, Gavin Stewart)
• 1989 – Bronze, Eight

Junior World Championships

• 1988: Gold, Coxless Pair (with Matthew Pinsent)
• 1987: Gold, Coxless Four