Is Dick Fosbury Living or Dead?

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Is American athletics competitor, high jumper Dick Fosbury dead? Or ... still alive?

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By Andrew Droid Webber

Updated 13 April 2023

Image info

Artist	Unknown authorUnknown author
Credit	[1]
License	pd
Desc	CAMPIONI DELLO SPORT 1969/70- n. 63 - FOSBURY (USA) -ATLETICA L.
Url	https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Dick_Fosbury_1968.jpg
Usage	Public domain
Description_url	https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dick_Fosbury_1968.jpg

Image info/credit

American athletics competitor, high jumper

Dick Fosbury is ...

Dead

Born	6 March 1947 in Portland
Died	12 March 2023 in Salt Lake City
Age	76 years
Cause	lymphoma

Sex or gender	male
Country of citizenship	United States of America
Birth name	Richard Douglas Fosbury
Manner of death	natural causes
Occupation	athletics competitor, politician, athlete and Olympic competitor
Height	1.93m (6'4")
Weight	100kg (220.5lbs)
Notable work	Fosbury Flop
Country for sport	United States of America
Sports discipline competed in	high jump
Sport	athletics
Participant in	1968 Summer Olympics
Educated at	North Medford High School and South Medford High School
Sports discipline competed in	high jump
Field of work	athletics, horizontal jump, high jump and Olympic sport

About Dick Fosbury

Dick Fosbury: The High-Flying Rebel

Dick Fosbury is a name that will forever be etched in the annals of athletics history. Born on March 6, 1947, in Portland, Oregon, Fosbury revolutionized the high jump event with his unconventional technique that came to be known as the "Fosbury Flop." In the late 1960s, Fosbury's innovative approach to the high jump not only earned him a gold medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics but also changed the way high jumpers approached the event.

Fosbury's journey to Olympic glory was not an easy one. As a teenager, he struggled to find his footing in the high jump event, often finishing last in competitions. However, Fosbury refused to give up and began experimenting with different techniques. It was during his time at Oregon State University that Fosbury developed the technique that would make him a legend.

The Fosbury Flop involved jumping over the bar with his back facing the bar and his head and shoulders leading the way. This technique allowed Fosbury to clear the bar at greater heights than his competitors, and he soon became a force to be reckoned with in the high jump event.

At the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, Fosbury's unorthodox technique stunned the world as he cleared the bar at a height of 2.24 meters, setting a new Olympic record and winning the gold medal. Fosbury's victory not only marked a turning point in his career but also changed the way high jumpers approached the event.

Fosbury's legacy as a trailblazer in athletics has been recognized in numerous ways. In 1993, he was inducted into the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame, and in 2019, he was awarded the prestigious Olympic Order for his contributions to the Olympic movement.

Today, Fosbury continues to inspire young athletes around the world with his story of perseverance and innovation. His legacy as a rebel who changed the game will forever be remembered in the world of athletics.

References:

1. "Dick Fosbury." USA Track and Field, www.usatf.org/athletes/hall-of-fame/track-and-field/dick-fosbury/.

2. "Dick Fosbury." Olympic.org, www.olympic.org/dick-fosbury.