\n<\/p>\n
Tributes have been paid to former world champion hurdler and Olympic medallist Greg Foster who has died aged 64.<\/span><\/p>\n The American won gold in the 110m hurdles at the World Athletics Championships in 1983, 1987 and 1991. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n He also won the 110m hurdles silver medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.<\/span><\/p>\n Former British hurdler Colin Jackson, who competed against Foster, described him as “an inspiration” while American multiple Olympic champion Michael Johnson said he “left a great legacy”.<\/span><\/p>\n Foster was suffering from amyloidosis, a rare disease in which a protein build up causes organ damage. <\/span><\/p>\n He had a transplant in 2020 as a result of the disease but died on Sunday.<\/span><\/p>\n Double world champion Jackson, 56, wrote on social media: “Greg was an inspiration for me, I watched his hurdle skill work, spoke to him how I could improve and competed with him. His input eventually allowed me to take the world title and the championship record off him\u2026 he was very much part of my success.”<\/span><\/p>\n Four-time Olympic champion Johnson also paid homage to Foster, who remains the only male athlete to win the 110m hurdles at three consecutive World Athletics Championships,<\/span><\/p>\n “Incredible consistency and longevity as a hurdler,” he wrote on social media: “He also valiantly fought this illness for several years. He will be missed but left a great legacy.”<\/span><\/p>\n World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon, also a former hurdler and rival of Foster, said he was “a fierce competitor on the track but always a warm, generous and friendly man away from the intensity of competition”.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n