1968 Olympic High Jump Champion Who Introduced the ‘Fosbury Flop’ Technique Passes Away at 76, Says World Athletics with Deep Sadness.

At the age of 76, legendary high jumper and 1968 Olympic gold medalist, Dick Fosbury, passed away on Sunday. World Athletics expressed their deep sorrow upon hearing the news and paid tribute to Fosbury’s contribution to his sport, specifically his revolutionary ‘Fosbury flop’ technique that has since been adopted by all high jumpers around the world.

Fosbury’s innovative approach, which involved jumping headfirst and backwards over the bar, was initially met with skepticism from traditionalists. However, it soon became apparent that the unconventional method was far more efficient than the traditional straddle technique, which had been the norm for decades.

Today, Fosbury’s legacy lives on, as his revolutionary technique has become a cornerstone of high jump training worldwide. World Athletics’ announcement of Fosbury’s death is a somber reminder of the impact he had on the world of athletics, and his memory will undoubtedly continue to inspire future generations of high jumpers.

The article was published on March 14th, 2023, and can be found on the official World Athletics website.

Source : @WorldAthletics

World Athletics is deeply saddened to hear that 1968 Olympic high jump champion @DickFosbury1, who revolutionised his event by introducing the ‘Fosbury flop’ technique, passed away on Sunday at the age of 76.

Truly one of the greats.

📰:

World Athletics is deeply saddened to hear that 1968 Olympic high jump champion @DickFosbury1, who revolutionised his event by introducing the ‘Fosbury flop’ technique, passed away on Sunday at the age of 76.

Truly one of the greats.

📰: https://t.co/PHUr7pdcNA pic.twitter.com/vBeFZ92aqH

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) March 13, 2023