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CNN story here.
After competing, he became an engineer and was active in various sports organizations.
After competing, he became an engineer and was active in various sports organizations.
He used the flop in the pole vault too? I hadn't heard of that...Klystron said:
Dick Fosbury was an American high jumper who revolutionized the sport with his innovative technique known as the "Fosbury Flop." He won a gold medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics using this method.
The Fosbury Flop is a high jump technique where the athlete approaches the bar in a curved run, leaps off one foot, and goes over the bar head-first with their back facing the bar. This technique allows for a more efficient and higher jump compared to previous methods.
The Fosbury Flop revolutionized high jumping by demonstrating a more effective way to clear the bar. Before Fosbury, most high jumpers used techniques like the straddle or the scissors jump. After his success, the Fosbury Flop became the dominant technique in the sport.
Dick Fosbury's major achievements include winning the gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City with a jump of 2.24 meters (7 feet 4.25 inches), setting a new Olympic record at the time. His innovative technique left a lasting legacy in the world of athletics.
Dick Fosbury passed away at the age of 76. The specific cause of his death has not been widely publicized, but it is known that he had battled cancer in the past. His death marks the loss of a pioneering athlete and a significant figure in the history of track and field.