BEIJING, China, August 7. MARK Foster said he is honored to be asked to be Great Britain's flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
The 38-year-old is about to compete at his fifth Olympic Games after making his Olympic debut at Seoul in 1988.
He becomes the first swimmer to carry the Union Flag at an Olympic Opening Ceremony since Anita Lonsborough at the Tokyo Games in 1964.
"I was blown away when I was told, it was a big surprise and a huge honor. It's fantastic," Foster said. "Some of the most wonderful names in British sport have been Olympic flag-bearers. I really wanted to be picked but I didn't totally believe I would be. My heart was pumping when the announcement was made. Making the Olympic Games this time around was fantastic in itself, but this has really topped it off. It's phenomenal."
Foster competed at the Seoul Games in 1988, as well as at Barcelona in 1992, Atlanta in 1996 and at Sydney 2000. He reached the 50m freestyle finals at both Barcelona and Sydney.
During his illustrious career he has set five world records, seven European records, nine Commonwealth records and 19 British records.
Foster, a University of Bath Swimming Club member, swims the 50m freestyle at the Beijing 2008 Games.
Each of Team GB's team leaders had the option to nominate a candidate for flag-bearer, in consultation with their athletes. Team leaders then voted on the shortlist of nominees in consultation with their athletes.
Special thanks to British Swimming for contributing this report.
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Reaction Time Comments
August 7, 2008 This is a great honor for an extremely deserving athlete who was not in the 2004 Olympics because of some strange political decisions by British swimming. Otherwise, this would be his 6th Olympics! Submitted by: flutterby
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