Foster to Skip World Champs

Olympic coxless four champion Tim Foster has put his single sculls campaign on hold, opting not to row at the World Championships in Lucerne in August, British Rowing announced on Tuesday.

Foster had been rowing in the single to build his fitness after an injury prone build up to the season saw him miss the national trials.

But he had failed to make an impression in the boat class, finishing 8th at the Zurich Rowing World Cup regatta in Vienna and 12th in Seville two weeks earlier.

British international team manager David Tanner said that, despite good progress in recent months, Foster was still not at full fitness.

“Tim, the coaches and the team management all felt that in the context of the Olympic cycle and looking ahead to Athens, it was better for Tim to miss the World Championships and concentrate on getting right for next year,” Tanner said.

“Tim is an outstanding oarsman who has overcome many setbacks in his career and we have every confidence that he will be back at full strength.”

Foster was part of the British “Redgrave” coxless four that won gold at the Sydney Olympic Games last year.