Mark Foster
Former Olympic Champion Swimmer and Winner of 51 International medals over a 23 year career
*Fees are a guide only. Exact cost will be dependent on requirements and are subject to change.
About Mark Foster
In 2008, Mark received one of British sport’s highest honours when he was selected as flag bearer at the Beijing Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, a moment he cites as one of the proudest of his career.
Since retiring from competitive swimming, Mark has built a successful career as a broadcaster, commentator, public speaker, philanthropist, and brand ambassador. He is a familiar face across major sporting events, including The Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, and is a regular panellist on BBC’s A Question of Sport.
Mark’s professional and personal journey has given him deep insight into high performance, resilience, wellbeing, and sustainable success. He is passionate about encouraging healthier, more balanced lifestyles, sharing practical strategies for physical and mental wellbeing through his speaking, media work, and digital platforms.
Following his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, Mark co-founded the dance-fitness programme FitSteps™, and continues to support future talent through the Mark Foster Swimming Academy, inspiring the next generation of elite athletes.
A committed philanthropist, Mark is patron of the Anaphylaxis Campaign and Regain, and has supported numerous charities including WellChild, SportsAid, Movember, The Prostate Cancer Charity, and BT Swimathon. Since publicly coming out in 2017, he has also become a respected advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, speaking openly about lived experience, identity, inclusion, and authenticity in high-performance environments.
As a speaker, Mark is known for his energy, humour, and honesty, delivering engaging sessions on leadership, pressure, confidence, resilience, and personal reinvention. His talks combine elite sporting insight with real-life perspective, making them highly relevant for corporate, education, and public-sector audiences.
With his proven track record at the top of world sport, strong media profile, and relatable communication style, Mark Foster is a compelling choice for organisations seeking an inspiring speaker who connects performance, wellbeing, and inclusion in a powerful and authentic way.
To book Motivational Speaker Mark Foster, contact The Speakers Agency on +44(0)1332 810481 or email enquiries@thespeakersagency.com
Motivational / After Dinner Speaking
Audiences will learn through his speech, Reach for the Stars, how Mark’s father’s fear of water pushed him to learn to swim, how he almost spent his career filing in a council office and the truth behind that string top on Strictly Come Dancing.
Business lessons include:
• Reach for the stars and be the best that you can be
• Setting achievable goals
• Learning from mistakes and dealing with setbacks
• Learning how to manage your responses to events beyond your control and turning them around to your advantage
• An insight into the World’s biggest Sporting event – The Olympic Games
• Working outside of your comfort zone
• Partnerships and team work – recognising that you can’t do it alone
and nurturing strengths and weaknesses in a team environment
Testimonials
"Mark spoke at our annual conference in 2009 and was a huge hit. He managed to combine inspirational messages with funny moments from Strictly and great interaction with the audience."
Education and Special Projects Ltd
"Mark was an inspiring and engaging speaker. He was very easy to work with and went the extra mile to make sure that he completely understood the campaign before the speech on the day and by using the products in his home. He made sure that all of our key messages were included in an entertaining and inter-active speech. We have no hesitation in recommending him and would love to work with him again in the future."
Energy Saving Trust
"Mark was great - everyone agreed it was the best and buzziest we’ve had"
Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce
