Announced Wednesday 5th December 2001
It was announced this morning by the British International Rowing Organisation that Tim Foster is retiring from international competition. Foster capped a career in which he won seven world championship medals (two gold) together with bronze at the Atlanta Olympics by winning a second Olympic medal, this time gold, with Redgrave, Pinsent and Cracknell in Sydney.
Last year, however, as in 1999, he had to sit out the Worlds, a recurrent knee injury adding to the competitive chances lost through problems with his back in former years. More surgery was performed on Tim's right knee in September, and although he was given the all-clear to resume training, he felt it unfair to push his body any further, and has reluctantly retired from the international GB squad.
"If I row now, I row left-legged, and pretty much carry my right leg", said Foster. "I've probably had my fair share of bad luck (with injuries), and sitting in a launch seems like a better idea than rowing right now. I'm pretty excited about the future, though."
Foster's talents will be much missed: he is one of the most naturally skilful athletes in Britain and moves considerably more water than his ergometer scores would suggest. However, the break-up of the Redgrave Four and the emergence of powerful new stars such as Toby Garbett, Steve Williams and Rick Dunn to add to Pinsent, Cracknell and Coode made it difficult to see where an oarsman recovering from such extensive injury was going to fit in to the coxless four and pair, clearly seen by Jurgen Grobler as his top boats.
Fortunately Foster's addiction to the sport will continue. He is extending his coaching role at University of London by taking up a coaching scholarship funded by the Lottery Sports Fund as part of the ARA World Class Performance Grant, and will work with squad athletes as well as the UL students, mentored by Grobler.
"It had to happen sooner or later," said Foster. "It's been on the cards. I think my body is trying to tell me something. It was a very difficult decision. Rowing has been my life for the last twelve years at least, and it's what I loved doing. I looked forward to getting out on the river. But now I feel I'm better off looking forward and going into coaching rather than putting my body through the strain of the next three years."
It is probably a sensible decision: Foster's remarkable speed of healing from injury has appeared to be compromised in recent months. It does further weaken the British squad, however, and in a season which has already seen the retirement of the eight's coach Martin McElroy from the GB system, following several of his Sydney champions out of the competitive limelight.