Foster fights for fitness

Tim Foster has beaten a lonely path this season

by BBC Sport Online's Charlie Henderson

Tim Foster has endured a torrid time since winning gold in the coxless four at the Sydney Olympics.

Since that success Sir Steve Redgrave has been feted wherever he has gone.

Two other members of the crew, Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell, have combined in a pair to enjoy a formidable summer on the water.

For his part, Foster has had a "fairly troubled season".

The 31-year-old is the master of understatement.

Having taken time off post-Sydney, the new season was supposed to herald a new stage in his career.

I'm confident I can get back to being an elite athlete again

Tim Foster

Instead, Foster has been plagued by injuries that haunted his build-up to the Olympics.

"It was a frustrating season in which I could never go at 100%," he explains.

"I took time off after the Olympics by choice to have a rest and get my back checked out, and then, having got started, it was stop and start all the time.

"Three weeks on and a week off - I could never get myself up to speed."

Ahead of the Olympics, Foster's problems stemmed from a bad back. Now his knee is the cause of concern - and aggravation.

An operation to remove tissue rubbing on the tendon on his right knee has proved a success and he is now ready to "draw a line under last year and get ready for the next".

If gold in Sydney was Foster's defining moment in the sport, 14 months on he is facing up to the possibility of life outside rowing.

"Having had the career I've had, the one thing I can do is cope and recover from injuries.

"I've had a fair few - backs, hands, ankles, knees - so it's annoying because I was hoping for four years injury-free, a simple ride."

Foster in happier times at the Olympics

Despite the frustrations of the past year, Foster remains positive - "you have to look at the positives" - although he appreciates that getting back to his best is not going to be an easy ride.

British rowing, unlike one of its golden members, is in a healthy state, and Foster knows he will have to earn his place in the team.

"I'm confident I can get back, get myself up to speed, get fit and healthy and back to being an elite athlete again.

"That will take me beyond Christmas. It will be tough and there will be no place waiting for me - I've got to earn it.

"If I can get back to being the athlete I was I'm confident that there will be a place for me, but it's not something I can take for granted.

"After doing all the hard work I have to make all the decisions in the New Year."

The "decisions" will be dependent on Foster maintaining his fitness and sustaining his form through the national rowing trials.

"I need to get to a position where I can find out what's in store and then I can make a rational decision.

"Early next year will be when I make the difficult decisions and make the difficult jump from getting back into fitness, getting back into a boat, and seeing what opportunities there are.

Up to Sydney it was a dream - now it's a decision

Tim Foster

"If the opportunities aren't there then that becomes the point when decisions will be made.

"I want to carry on until it's proved to me that I can't carry on.

"I haven't reached that point yet and I haven't got to the point where I can make a clear judgement, although it is becoming more of a decision."

Foster's appetite for the sport remains undimmed.

The lonely mornings on the river after the alarm has gone off at an ungodly hour are not something Foster will miss when he calls time on his career.

But for the moment they remain an intrinsic part of his training programme and his efforts to secure a seat in a winning boat.

Foster rows to win, not to compete.

That incentive will keep his hunger alive until the "definite decisions" are made next year.