For
a sixteen year period, from his beginnings as a UCLA freshman in 1977 to his
final full season in 1992, Greg Foster
dominated the 110 high hurdles. His fifteen years of being ranked in the world
top-10 is a record for any running event. He only missed making the top-10 in
1988 because of a broken arm. Foster’s career was highlighted by three world
championships in 1983, 1987 and 1991. He also won a silver medal in the 1984 Summer
Olympics, and his PR of 13.03 is still ranked just outside the U.S. top-10 of
all-time. Foster was inducted into the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame in
1998.
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| Foster and Renaldo "Skeets" Nehemiah in one of their memorable hurdling duals |
Since
retiring from competition, Foster has stayed involved with track as an athlete
representative, using his own experiences to benefit others. His company, GBM
Sports and Event Management, serves as a consulting firm which specializes in
athlete and event management for all sports, but focuses on track and field.
Now
54, Foster has also recently joined the collegiate coaching ranks, recently
hired as the head coach of the Lindenwood College (MO) Lynx, an NAIA team which
will kick off its inaugural season in 2013.
Q: You retired from professional competition in
1992. Looking back, how well were you prepared for life after track?
Foster: I feel like I was well prepared. I had my
experience and education from UCLA (majored in psychology, with marketing
minor). Fortunately, I had coaches like Jim Bush at UCLA and Bob Kersee, who
was my coach all throughout my professional career. They were concerned about
me not just as an athlete, but also as a person.
Q: Eventually you started working as an athlete
representative. Was there a single defining event which directed you toward
this line of work?
Foster: In a way. Bob Kersee started the process. I
was still competing and there were a group of us – Florence Joyner-Griffith,
Jackie Joyner-Kersee… I was the elder statesman and had to meet with directors
and promoters.
Q: What do you feel younger athletes are most
lacking? What items would be on your checklist for a track and field athlete
who is considering making a living as a professional?
Foster: Competition. There is a lack of competition
between the college level and pro. There are some opportunities for athletes to
showcase their talents. But, in the past, we had meets like the Mobil 1 series.
Now athletes have to go over there (overseas).
The next thing would be financial support. If you’re
a professional track athlete nowadays, you can’t hold a 9 to 5 (job). You’re
being paid to train. Finally, be ready for the opportunities. When they come
up, you have to be ready to go. And as we like to say, you’re only as good as
your last race.
Q: How does your company, GBM, help the athlete fill
this void?
Foster: We’re more of a support system rather than
an agency. We act as consultants, to let the athlete know what’s out there and
to help with marketing. There’s a process between the college and professional
levels. For the pros, it’s a business for these guys. If you’re ranked #17 in
the world in football, you’re probably making a million dollars. It’s not that
way in track and field. They (meet promoters) are always looking for the top
eight.
(continued)
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