Former world champion swimmer Mark Foster talks skyscrapers exclusively to Yellow Days

Mark Foster has won 51 medals over a 23 year swimming career, setting 9 world records in the process. Today he can be found poolside as the popular face of swimming on the BBC and in the pool inspiring the new generation to swim at his Mark Foster Swim Academy. 

Yellow Days co-founder Emanuele Palladino caught up with Mark to see what lessons can be gleaned from his sporting and business experiences.

What inspired you to start the Mark Foster Swim Academy?

When I was 11 years of age I used to swim down at Southend-on-Sea swimming club. One day Duncan Goodhew came along, he had just won the 1980 Moscow Olympics and and he was doing a series of roadshows across the country. I just remember thinking ‘Wow’! He showed us his Olympic gold medal and he did a demo in the pool. I remember thinking how amazing he was and that I wanted to be like him and win an Olympic gold medal.

How long have you been running the Academy?

I have been running it for 12 years now. Nobody was doing masterclasses or swim clinics in that way when I started, so I put a team together and did a one-day masterclass and then we grew it from there.  

We cover everything from the swimming side, to land and conditioning, classroom sessions around experiences, mindset, dealing with nerves and nutrition. Things that are useful in their pursuit of being the best they can be, but also for life itself.

How rewarding have you found it?

It’s been incredibly rewarding. At the end of every masterclass we do photos and autographs. Seeing the kids’ faces and hearing what they have taken from the Academy is amazing. 

We often drive off and think how awesome this is. As a team we all enjoy what we do. I have a great team around me, and that is what makes the difference and allows us to make an impact.

How have you adapted from swimming to the world of business?

Sport and business have so many crossovers. I discuss success in sport and business as being like a skyscraper. A skyscraper needs big foundations. You have to put a lot of work in at the beginning that is not seen to make it work and get to the top. But all people tend to see is the skyscraper.

When you consider the Olympics – it comes every four years and all the public sees is the main event, but they don’t see the foundation and unthankful work that goes into preparing for it 

What have been the lessons learned for you in business?

You do not win the lottery in business. There is no such thing as overnight success. You have to be patient, persevere and be ready and willing to adapt. Running my Academy is rewarding, we have repeat bookings and generally it has been a positive experience. But it is not always easy – competition is everywhere and trying to break through and make noise takes effort. We have to work together as a team and play to our strengths and adapt all the time.

Where next for your Academy?

We just want to keep doing what we do. The reward is seeing the kids grow and improve. We keep in contact with them and want to have a positive impact on them and see them progress. It is not about creating a future olympic champion, but about inspiring them to be the best version of themselves. That is the best reward we can see.

Does seeing the new generation make you miss swimming?

The kid inside of me wishes I could still swim. And when I do my commentary work I wish I was in the pool, and not talking about it. But I can’t! So passing on the love and passion for the sport and giving that to others is the next best thing.