Brendan Foster, the voice of British Athletics in the United Kingdom, has announced he will retire from commentating on live athletic events for the BBC following the 2017 World Athletics Championships in London later this summer.
Foster has been commentating on athletics for the BBC since he retired as a runner following the 1980 Olympics, including covering every major athletics event for the BBC since 1983.
His track-career included a bronze medal at the 1976 Olympics, a gold in the 1974 European Championships and a gold in the 1978 Commonwealth games.
Aside from his commentary, Foster created and set up the great north run in 1981 as well as being heavily involved with Nike, rising to the role of Vice-President of European operations for the shoe brand.
Foster spoke about his broadcasting career, “I have loved every minute of my time working for BBC Sport,” said Foster. “It has genuinely been a privilege and I am very lucky to have done what I have done since my competitive career finished.”
He continued, “I have commentated on some great races, run by some of the very best athletes of all time such as Seb Coe, Steve Cram, Paula Radcliffe, Haile Gebrselassie, Kenenisa Bekele, David Rudisha and of course Mo. I have been lucky. It’s also been an honour to work with so many great people who have been a part of the BBC Athletics team.”
