A bad pun maybe, but trouble with a wisdom tooth may force the Mark Foster to pull out of a tournament in Croatia which is important for his Commonwealth Games build-up. Foster was an “out of sight” winner yet again at the National Swimming Championships in Coventry, but he could be beaten this week — by toothache. “I’m going to have to see what the dentist says,” he commented.
“I’d love to swim in the meeting in Split because the American Olympic champion will be there. But I can’t take any chances health-wise so close to the Games in Manchester.”
The ASA National finals were, as expected, little more than a training swim for the short-course specialist, although he said he benefited from the tournament atmosphere.
“There was nobody to push me,” he said. “I won the 50 metres freestyle by about half a length, and the butterfly by slightly more.
“There are people coming along, but, unfortunately, they are not yet at the stage to give me a race. The Americans would be a real challenge, and I hope I can get there.”