Dick Fosbury, the Olympic high jump champion who revolutionized the event with his innovative jumping technique, has passed away at the age of 76.
Fosbury won gold in the high jump at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, where he introduced the “Fosbury Flop,” a back-first jumping technique that has since been adopted by all high jumpers.
Fosbury’s agent Ray Schulte confirmed his death on Instagram, revealing that the athlete had passed away peacefully in his sleep after a brief recurrence of lymphoma. Fosbury is survived by his wife, son, and stepdaughters.
Before Fosbury’s technique, the straddle or scissor jump was commonly used in the high jump. However, Fosbury introduced his new technique for the first time on the world stage when foam matting was introduced to break the athletes’ fall.
He set a then-Olympic record of 2.24 meters to win gold and change the sport forever. The back-first jump gradually gained acceptance as more and more athletes attempted it.
Fosbury’s contribution to the sport and his gold medal earned him a spot in the US National Track and Field Hall of Fame.
Amelie Oudea-Castera, France’s Minister of Sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, paid tribute to Fosbury’s legacy, saying that he had “revolutionized the practice of this sport with his sublime audacity.”
»Dick Fosbury, pioneer of ‘Fosbury Flop’ used by all high jumpers dies at 76«
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