Dick Fosbury used his new technique to win the high jump gold medal at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, setting a new Games record of 2.24 metres; the American died at the age of 76
Last update: 03/13/23 7:51 p.m.
Dick Fosbury has died aged 76
Dick Fosbury, who revolutionized the high jump with his innovative retro style known as the “Fosbury Flop”, has died aged 76.
Fosbury’s agent, Ray Schulte, wrote on his social media account: “It is with a very heavy heart that I must announce that longtime friend and client Dick Fosbury passed away peacefully in his sleep early on Sunday. morning after a short bout with a recurrence of lymphoma.”
Fosbury used his new technique to win the gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, setting a new Games record of 2.24 meters and paving the way for the style to be universally adopted by future generations in
the event.
Born in Portland in 1947, Fosbury began experimenting with his new style, starting with a curled run before a twist to clear the bar back, during his time on the Oregon State track team, despite initial resistance from his coaching staff.
Fosbury won the gold medal at the 1968 Olympics
It proved successful enough to win the NCAA Championship and earn Fosbury a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team, taking him to Mexico where he continued to shock his detractors by managing to clear all of his heights on the first attempt the opening day of the competition.
The following day Fosbury, 21, failed on his first two attempts at 2.24 but landed his third and final jump, ushering in a new era for his sport and suggesting he could continue to fight for the record of the world.
In fact, Fosbury would never jump as high as he did in Mexico City again. He failed to qualify to defend his crown at the 1972 Olympics, but his legacy was intact with more than half of the 40 high jump competitors then using his trademark style.
After his retirement, Fosbury had a brief career in politics. In 2008 he announced that he had been diagnosed with stage one lymphoma, but said in an interview six years later that he was in remission and cured of the disease.
Fosbury is survived by his wife Robin Tomasi, his son Erich and his stepdaughters Stephanie Thomas-Phipps and Kristin Thompson.