Dick Fosbury was an American high jumper, who is considered one of the most influential athletes in the history of track and field.
He won a gold medal at the 1968 Olympics, revolutionizing the high jump event with a “back-first” technique now known as the Fosbury Flop.
Dick Fosbury age
He was 76 years old when he died. He was born on March 6, 1947, and died on March 12, 2023.
Dick Fosbury biography
Fosbury, an Oregon native who was raised in Portland, first tried out a novel high-jumping manoeuvre when he was 16 years old and a student at Medford High School.
Fosbury struggled to compete using the prevalent high-jumping strategies of the time. He was unable to clear jumps of five feet (1.52 m) in his sophomore year, which is the height requirement for many high-school track events.
The straddle method, which was the most popular technique, required an athlete to go over the high-jump bar facing down and raise each of his legs separately over the bar.
Fosbury started experimenting with alternative high jump techniques because he found it challenging to coordinate all the movements required by the straddle method.
He started experimenting with this method, and over time he modified it to suit himself better and gain more height. Fosbury’s early attempts were described as a “airborne seizure” by one historian because they lacked the coordination of a well-executed straddle method jump.
Nevertheless, by the end of his sophomore year and the start of his junior year, it started to bear fruit, and he gradually improved his ability to clear higher jumps.
Dick Fosbury wife and children
He was married to Robin Tomasi, and they had a son, Erich. His wife had two daughters from her previous marriage whose names are Stephanie and Kristin.
Dick Fosbury cause of death
Fosbury died on March 12, 2023, aged 76, after a short bout with a recurrence of lymphoma.
Dick Fosbury funeral
Details of her funeral have not been announced yet.