Greg Foster was ranked among the top ten 110m hurdlers in the world 15 times, a record for a running event, and achieved the number-one ranking five times. He also won the first three World Outdoor Championships in the hurdles in 1983, 1987 and 1991. While at UCLA, Foster was a national collegiate champion in both the high hurdles and 200-meter dash. In 1979, he was world ranked in both events. After graduating from college in 1981, he won 10 national titles, both indoor and outdoor. The only major prize that eluded him was an Olympic gold medal. He came close in 1984, finishing second at the Los Angeles Games to Roger Kingdom of the U.S. In 1988, Foster broke his forearm prior to the Trials, competed nonetheless, but failed to gain a spot on the team. Four years later, at the 1992 Trials, he finished a non-qualifying fourth. Foster set world indoor hurdles records in 1986 and 1987. He was a member of 12 international teams, was the 1991 world indoor champion and the 1981 World Cup winner.
1984 Olympics: 110 m hurdles (2nd) 1983 World Outdoors: 110 m hurdles (1st) 1987 World Outdoors: 110 m hurdles (1st) 1991 World Indoors: 110 m hurdles (1st) 1991 World Outdoors: 110 m hurdles (1st) 1992 Olympic Trials: 110 m hurdles (4th)