My Double Life

'As gripping as Mark's greatest races' - Zoe Ball 'Incredibly brave and uplifting' - Rebecca Adlington The moving story of one of Britain's best-loved sportsmen, and his thirty-year coming out journey WITH A FOREWORD BY CLARE BALDING As a five-time Olympian, six-time World Champion and eight-time World Record holder, if anyone was going to be openly gay at the height of their sporting career it should have been swimmer Mark Foster - a confident, laid-back guy who doesn't care what anyone thinks. So why did it take him half a lifetime to come out? From a Southend Jack-the-lad expelled from one of the most prestigious schools in the country to becoming the fastest man through water on the planet and a television favourite, Mark's journey is extraordinary. With humour and honesty, he takes readers through his unprecedented 20-year career in the pool and shows how he hid his sexuality for so long - and convinced himself he was happy doing so. Alongside his sporting achievements, Mark recounts his glittering appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, his growing broadcasting career and the other-worldliness of being an Olympian in the public eye. But his experience makes us stop and reassess where we really are in terms of society's approach to homosexuality and diversity in sport. Inspiring and moving, My Double Life is the tale of one man's pursuit of sporting prowess and finding the freedom to live his truth.

Mark Foster is an English former competitive swimmer, broadcaster and public speaker. He is a five-time Olympian, six-time World Champion and eight-time World Record holder over a 23-year professional swimming career. Foster trains and inspires the next generation of competitive swimmers through the Mark Foster Swimming Academy and is also a spokesperson for the LGBTQ+ community, promoting compassion, equality and inclusion. @markfosterswim

Foreword by Clare Balding 1. Beer and chocolate 2. Phwoarrrrr 3. Millfield 4. Fifteen and fast 5. What will the neighbours say? 6. Seoul to Soul 7. The driver 8. Pretty cool 9. Catherine 10. Very amateur, a little professional 11. All I remember is a door closing 12. Branded 13. Thirty something 14. Tainted love 15. Strictly speaking 16. Aunty 17. A chip off the old block 18. Hello, world 19. Fun and games Acknowledgements List of images