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Pre-order. Available Jul 02 2026
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Description

'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.

Accessibility Information

Additional accessibility information

  • PDF/UA-2, 1.4
  • accessibility@bloomsbury.com

Hazards

The publication contains no hazards

Support for non-visual reading

Has alternative text descriptions for images

Navigation

  • Page list to go to pages from the print source version
  • Elements such as headings, tables, etc for structured navigation
  • All or substantially all textual matter is arranged in a single logical reading order

Table of Contents

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

Product details

Published Jul 02 2026
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Pages 256
ISBN 9781399425186
Imprint Bloomsbury Sport
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Mark Foster

Mark Foster is an English former competitive swimm…

Author

Mark Foster

Mark Foster is an English former competitive swimm…

Author

Mark Foster

Mark Foster is an English former competitive swimm…

Author

Mark Foster

Mark Foster is an English former competitive swimm…

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