Dick Fosbury – the person who revolutionized the excessive bounce in athletics – has died aged 76.
The American jumped backwards over the bar to win gold on the Mexico Metropolis Olympics in 1968 in a method often called the “Fosbury Flop” and utilized by excessive jumpers immediately.
On the Video games, Fosbury set a report of two.24 meters utilizing his methodology.
Writing on Instagram, Fosbury agent Ray Schulte mentioned his shopper died on Sunday.
“It’s with very heavy hearts that I need to announce the information that longtime pal and shopper, Dick Fosbury, handed away peacefully in his sleep early Sunday morning after a brief battle with recurrent lymphoma,” wrote Schulte.
“Dick will probably be sorely missed by his mates and followers all over the world. A real legend and a pal to all.”
Fosbury started experimenting with the “flop” in class and, inspired by his coaches, had all however perfected it by the point he was in larger schooling.
Within the 1968 Olympic excessive bounce last, the 6-foot-5 athlete cleared 2.24m on his third try and win the gold medal.
“He endlessly modified a whole occasion with a method that appeared loopy on the time, however the outcome made it the norm,” mentioned the four-time U.S. Olympic champion and Michael Johnson, BBC specialist.
Fosbury is survived by his spouse Robin Tomasi, his son Erich and his stepdaughters Stephanie Thomas-Phipps and Kristin Thompson.
“Our sport has misplaced a real legend and innovator with the passing of Dick Fosbury,” said the USA Track and Field (USATF).
“He invented the ‘Fosbury Flop’, received gold on the 1968 Video games and was a lifelong advocate for athletes. Fosbury’s legacy will stay on for generations to come back.”
USATF Basic Supervisor Max Siegel mentioned he was “deeply saddened” by Fosbury’s passing and known as him “a real legend and trailblazer on the planet of athletics.”
He added: “We are going to at all times be thankful for his contributions to the game and his affect on the generations of athletes who adopted in his footsteps.
“Dick will probably be deeply missed, however his legacy will stay an inspiration to all.”
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