Zone3 partner with Mark Foster

British triathlon and open water swimming brand Zone3 today announce a long term partnership with swimming great, Mark Foster in conjunction with the launch of their new range of swimwear which includes a signature ‘Foster’ collection.

Mark Foster is one of Britain’s most successful swimmers. He has six World Championship titles, eleven European Championship titles, and two Commonwealth titles to his name. After an impressive career that spanned two decades, Mark decided to hang up his ‘Speedos’ following the 2008 Olympic Games but has by no means stepped away from the pool.

Recognised as one of the faces of British swimming, Mark has settled into his role as the elder statesman and is highly knowledgeable when it comes to all things swimming. Since the age of seven, swimming has been a major part of Mark’s life and he’s still closely involved with the sport today – swimming regularly (albeit at a slightly more leisurely pace), running coaching master-classes with aspiring Olympians, and commentating on the current crop of Olympians for the BBC.

Talking about the partnership, Zone3 founder James Lock said: “Mark is an icon of the pool and not only is he one of the highest regarded and respected swimmers; he also brings a wealth of product knowledge. When we began discussing the opportunity it was clear just how passionate he still is about the sport which is something we both shared. I can remember watching Mark compete as a youngster so to now have him on board with Zone3 is really exciting and we’ll be working closely to develop the finest product.”

As part of the partnership, Mark will be launching his own ‘MF-X’ range of Zone3 swimwear with both training garments and performance, FINA approved race wear. MF-X was born out of a shared passion between Mark and Zone3, and a desire to create product that better serves swimmers – both in form and function, performance, and value. Mark will be working closely with the designers at Zone3, combining their technical product knowledge and industry expertise with his experience, feedback and creative guidance.

Discussing his role, Mark commented: “When I was competing I always used to say that although it was me on the blocks, success was the result of a whole team’s input – from my coaches, friends and family, to my sponsors. I’m now a part of that team in the background, working collaboratively to create product that helps swimmers reach their potential. I first met the guys from Zone3 a few years back and am really pleased to be working with a leading British brand.”

Mark understands better than anyone how the small details make big differences in the water and this eye for detail has been put into every product – from the fabric choice, to panel construction and fit. Every item that wears the ‘MF-X’ badge has been scrutinised and refined by Mark, and is only signed off after he’s personally tested it.

Zone3 have built a strong following since they launched their first wetsuit in 2009, winning a number of accolades and industry awards for their open water swimming, and triathlon wetsuits. This partnership forms part of a strategic wider growth for the brand as it develops further both in the swim and land based sports markets.