Tim Foster
Encyclopedia
Timothy "Tim" James Carrington Foster MBE
(born 19 January 1970) is a British
rower. 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 a 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 Champs. 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 3-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 Gold 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.
At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China he 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.
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
(born 19 January 1970) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rower. He began rowing at Bedford Modern School
Bedford Modern School
Bedford Modern School is a British co-educational independent school in the Harpur area of Bedford, in the county of Bedfordshire, in England.Bedford Modern comprises a junior school and a senior school...
and competed in the Junior World Rowing Championships
Junior World Rowing Championships
The World Rowing Junior Championships is an international rowing regatta organized by FISA . A rower or coxswain shall be classified as a Junior until 31st December of the year in which he reaches the age of 18. After that date, he shall be classified as an Under 23 rower...
in 1987 and 1988. In the latter he competed in a pair with a Matthew Pinsent
Matthew Pinsent
Sir Matthew Clive Pinsent CBE is an English rower and broadcaster. During his rowing career, he won 10 world championship gold medals and four consecutive Olympic gold medals, of which three were with Steve Redgrave...
. 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
Back
- People :* Adam Back, British cryptographer* Charles Back, South African winemaker* Chris Back , Australian politician* Ernst Emil Alexander Back , German physicist* Frédéric Back , Canadian animator...
surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
but was straight back in the boat for the 1994 season - winning Bronze in the coxless four at the World Champs. 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
Steve Redgrave
Sir Steven Geoffrey Redgrave CBE is an English rower who won gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games from 1984 to 2000. He has also won three Commonwealth Games gold medals and nine World Rowing Championships gold medals...
, Matthew Pinsent
Matthew Pinsent
Sir Matthew Clive Pinsent CBE is an English rower and broadcaster. During his rowing career, he won 10 world championship gold medals and four consecutive Olympic gold medals, of which three were with Steve Redgrave...
and James Cracknell
James Cracknell
James Cracknell, OBE is a British rowing champion and double Olympic gold medalist and adventurer. Cracknell is married to TV and radio presenter Beverley Turner; they have three children. In the New Year Honours List, 2004, he was appointed OBE for services to sport...
. 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 3-part BBC documentary entitled Gold Fever
Gold Fever
Gold Fever was the name of a BBC documentary shown in August 2000, which followed Steve Redgrave and his coxless four team in the years leading up to the Sydney Olympics, where Redgrave was looking to claim his fifth consecutive gold medal...
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 Gold 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
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
Boat Club, he joined the UK Sport
UK Sport
UK Sport is the UK Government's organisation for directing the development of sport within the home countries.-History:The Sports Council previously had been formed in 1972, and had the motto Sport for All. There was also the Central Council of Physical Recreation. In July 1994 it was decided to...
-sponsored Elite Coach Programme in 2004. In January 2007, he became the Head Coach of the Swiss national rowing squad.
At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China he 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.
Achievements
- OlympicRowing at the Summer OlympicsRowing at the Summer Olympics has been part of the competition since the 1900 Summer Olympics. Rowing was on the program at the 1896 Summer Olympics but was cancelled due to bad weather. Only men were allowed to compete until the women's events were introduced at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal...
Medals: 1 Gold, 1 Bronze - World ChampionshipWorld Rowing ChampionshipsThe World Rowing Championships is an international rowing regatta organized by FISA . It is a week long event held at the end of the northern hemisphere summer and in non-Olympic years is the highlight of the international rowing calendar.The first event was held in Lucerne, Switzerland in 1962...
Medals: 2 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze - Junior World ChampionshipJunior World Rowing ChampionshipsThe World Rowing Junior Championships is an international rowing regatta organized by FISA . A rower or coxswain shall be classified as a Junior until 31st December of the year in which he reaches the age of 18. After that date, he shall be classified as an Under 23 rower...
Medals: 2 Gold - Blue Boat Appearances: 1 (0 wins)
Olympic Games
- 2000 - Gold, Coxless Four (with James CracknellJames CracknellJames Cracknell, OBE is a British rowing champion and double Olympic gold medalist and adventurer. Cracknell is married to TV and radio presenter Beverley Turner; they have three children. In the New Year Honours List, 2004, he was appointed OBE for services to sport...
, Matthew PinsentMatthew PinsentSir Matthew Clive Pinsent CBE is an English rower and broadcaster. During his rowing career, he won 10 world championship gold medals and four consecutive Olympic gold medals, of which three were with Steve Redgrave...
, Steve RedgraveSteve RedgraveSir Steven Geoffrey Redgrave CBE is an English rower who won gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games from 1984 to 2000. He has also won three Commonwealth Games gold medals and nine World Rowing Championships gold medals...
) - 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 CrossMartin CrossMartin Patrick Cross is an Olympic gold medal-winning oarsman. He won the gold medal in the coxed four at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics with Steve Redgrave, Richard Budgett, Andy Holmes, and Adrian Ellison....
, Peter Mulkerrins, Gavin Stewart) - 1989 - Bronze, Eight
Junior World Championships
- 1988 - Gold, Coxless Pair (with Matthew Pinsent)
- 1987 - Gold, Coxless Four