Fast return for British outcast

13 April 2012

Mark Foster is geared up to prove that he is the fastest swimmer in the world at this week's British National Championships in Sheffield.

Foster is back on top form following his controversial exit from September's Sydney Olympic Games, in which Britain failed to win a single swimming medal.

The 30-year-old had his accreditation removed by the British Olympic Association for wearing a Speedo-branded bodysuit instead of the BOA approved equivalent during the men's 50m freestyle final, in which Foster finished seventh.

Now he turns his attention to his speciality - short-course competition.

Foster, who represents Bath University swim team, clocked impressive times to win the 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly events at last week's Italian Grand Prix.

He now moves on to the Nationals before heading to Valencia in Spain next week for the European Championships.

Nine months ago, Foster saw his 50m freestyle world short-course record of 21.31secs fall to America's Anthony Ervin, who dead-heated for gold in Sydney with team-mate Gary Hall Jnr.

Now, with the Olympic long-course event out of the way, Foster wants to reclaim the title of 'fastest man in water'.

The former short-course world champion, who shares a house with British hurdler Colin Jackson, said: "I'm in awesome shape for short-course right now. I want to break the world record in both events and feel I could do it this week or next."

The championships will be the first opportunity for Britain's new national performance director Bill Sweetenham to see the country's top swimmers in action.

The Australian said: "I am looking forward to our nationals and Valencia. Although both events are short-course - and we need to convert good short-course performances to long-course - they will still give me the chance to check out personalities and get involved in the scheme of things. However, it will be more a case of standing back and watching, giving some direction, but I want to have a good look. I will be especially interested in the 18 and unders this weekend as that will tell me where we are going."

At the Nationals, which run from today until Sunday, Ipswich's Karen Pickering could break her 1993 British record for the 200m freestyle. The 28-year-old has prepared for the event by competing in the first three rounds of the Fina World Cup series and won both the 100m and 200m freestyle in Rio de Janeiro.

Lancashire's Stacey Holdsworth and fellow distance swimmer Nathalie Brown didn't make it to Sydney, but they have been impressive in the World Cup series.

They will be looking to beat 17-year-old Olympian Rebecca Cooke from Reading when they compete in the 800m freestyle.

Britain's only female individual finalist in Sydney, 28-year-old Alison Sheppard, will be in action in the 50m freestyle.

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Fast return for British outcast

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