Greg Foster

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameGregory "Greg"•Foster
Used nameGreg•Foster
Born4 August 1958 in Chicago, Illinois (USA)
Died19 February 2023 in Maywood, Illinois (USA)
Measurements190 cm / 84 kg
AffiliationsWorld Class Athletic Club, Los Angeles (USA)
NOC United States
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

Although he competed in only one edition of the Olympic Games, in 1984, partly due to bad luck and injuries, Greg Foster was World Champion in the high hurdles in 1983, 1987, and 1991. He also won the 1981 World Cup title, the 1986 Goodwill Games, and the 1991 World Indoor Championships.

Running for UCLA, Foster won the NCAA title in the 110 hurdles in 1978 and 1980 and also won the NCAA 200 metre title in 1979. He won 10 US national titles, four of them outdoors in the 110 meter hurdles (1981, 1983, 1986, and 1987) and six indoors, in the 60 yard hurdles (1983, 1984, 1985), 55 meter hurdles (1987, 1988) and 60 meter hurdles (1991).

In 1978, Foster broke the US record for the high hurdles, recording 13.22 at the NCAA Meet. He also set a world indoor record for the 60 metre hurdles with 7.36 in January 1987 at a meet in Los Angeles. During his career Foster was ranked in the world top 10 for 15 of 16 years from 1977-92, ranking #1 in 1982-83, 1986-87, and 1991.

Later in life, Foster developed chronic health issues as he had amyloidosis of the heart and underwent a heart transplant in 2020.

Personal Best: 110H – 13.03 (1981).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1984 Summer Olympics Athletics USA Greg Foster
110 metres Hurdles, Men (Olympic) 2 Silver

Special Notes