Legendary athlete Dick Fosbury, who enthralled TV viewers throughout the 1968 Mexico Metropolis Olympic Video games, the place he received the Gold within the excessive soar, has died. He was 76.
Fosbury’s passing was confirmed by his publicist Ray Schulte on Monday (March 13), who wrote on Instagram, “It’s with a really heavy coronary heart I’ve to launch the information that longtime good friend and consumer Dick Fosbury handed away peacefully in his sleep early Sunday morning after a brief bout with a recurrence of lymphoma.”
Acknowledged as probably the most influential athletes in monitor and discipline historical past, the Gold medalist turned heads on the 1968 Olympics when he showcased his signature “Fosbury Flop,” the place he would run diagonally in the direction of the bar within the excessive soar and throw himself over again first. His spectacular method broke Olympic and US data, incomes a gold medal with a soar of two.24 meters.
After returning to the U.S. following his Olympics victory, Fosbury made appearances on The Tonight Present with Johnny Carson and The Mike Douglas Present. And that very same 12 months, the “flop” helped Fosbury win the NCAA indoor and outside championships. The transfer quickly grew to become the adopted method of excessive soar athletes around the globe.
Fosbury by no means returned to the Olympics, however he continued to be concerned in athletics after retirement, serving on the chief board of the World Olympians Affiliation. In 1981, he was inducted into the Nationwide Observe and Discipline Corridor of Fame.
The excessive soar was without end modified.
Relaxation in peace, Dick Fosbury ❤️ pic.twitter.com/WzXgOmrFvP
— Group USA (@TeamUSA) March 13, 2023
Throughout his medal ceremony on the 1968 Olympics, Fosbury confirmed solidarity with the sooner civil rights protest on the video games by elevating his fist after the nationwide anthem. And, in 2014, he ran as a Democrat for a seat within the Idaho Home of Representatives, although he misplaced out to incumbent Republican Consultant Steve Miller.
He additionally based the non-profit group World Match with fellow Olympians Gary Corridor and Anne Cribbs. The corporate promotes youth health packages and Olympic beliefs.
“I’m deeply saddened by the passing of Dick Fosbury, a real legend and pioneer on this planet of monitor and discipline. Dick’s revolutionary strategy of the ‘Fosbury Flop’ revolutionized the excessive soar occasion and without end modified the game,” Max Siegel, CEO of USA Observe & Discipline mentioned in an announcement (through CNN).
“His gold medal victory on the 1968 Mexico Metropolis Olympics not solely cemented his place in U.S. Olympic historical past, but additionally left an indelible mark on the worldwide athletic group. We’ll at all times be pleased about his contributions to the game and his influence on generations of athletes who adopted in his footsteps.”
Try extra tributes beneath.
He’ll stay on in Olympic historical past.
Relaxation in peace, Dick Fosbury, the person who modified excessive soar without end. pic.twitter.com/bzCP0HwYHE
— The Olympic Video games (@Olympics) March 14, 2023
The world legend might be used too typically. Dick Fosbury was a real LEGEND! He modified a complete occasion without end with a method that appeared loopy on the time however the outcome made it the usual. https://t.co/4qx0WQ08pu
— Michael Johnson (@MJGold) March 13, 2023
R.I.P. 1968 Olympic gold medalist and excessive soar legend/pioneer Dick Fosbury, who handed away on Sunday. Condolences to his household and mates. Godspeed, Fos, from an eternally grateful sport. pic.twitter.com/BzV9XsGHff
— Ato Boldon (@AtoBoldon) March 13, 2023
RIP Dick Fosbury, a person who revolutionised his sport with a sensible piece of physics.
Fosbury realised that by leaping backwards and bending his again he might go over the bar whereas his centre of mass went beneath.
Genius.pic.twitter.com/SeqxC3gU9g— Equipment Yates (@Kit_Yates_Maths) March 14, 2023
There are some Athletes who innovate of their Sport to such a level they completely change the character of their Sport.
Dick Fosbury was simply such a pioneer.#RIPDickFosbury #TheFosburyFlop pic.twitter.com/0TtUT4x05e
— Michael Warburton (@MichaelWarbur17) March 13, 2023
So unhappy to listen to of the passing of Dick Fosbury on the age of 76, I took this image of him on the 1968 Olympic Video games in Mexico Metropolis, it was the primary time I witnessed ‘The Flop’, now universally recognised because the norm for top leaping. #RIPDickFosbury pic.twitter.com/nMSV0Mndgx
— Mark Shearman MBE (@AthleticsImages) March 13, 2023
When he wanted to go increased than what was potential, Dick Fosbury created a brand new approach of leaping. And the “Fosbury Flop” was born, without end altering the excessive soar and cementing his legacy in monitor and discipline.
At the moment, we keep in mind a real innovator who confirmed us all that Not possible Is… https://t.co/VFT3l4I6NA pic.twitter.com/hL3rJyNZtV
— adidas (@adidas) March 13, 2023
Sorry to report that OSU alum Dick Fosbury, who revolutionized the world together with his backwards-over-the-bar high-jump fashion, died Sunday, March 12, after a recurrence of lymphoma. He was 76. “Foz” received an Olympic gold medal in 1968—5 years after folks laughed at his new fashion. pic.twitter.com/kheaurvSHN
— Bob Welch (@bob_welch23) March 13, 2023