Robin Hayes
American politician
Dick Fosbury
American athletics competitor, high jumper
Dick Fosbury was an American high jumper who revolutionized the sport with his unique ‘Fosbury Flop’ technique, winning gold at the 1968 Olympics. He later pursued a career in politics, running for the Idaho House of Representatives and Blaine County Commissioner.
Table of Contents
About the Dick Fosbury
Richard Douglas Fosburywas 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 Summer Olympics, revolutionizing the high jump event with a “back-first” technique now known as the Fosbury flop. His method was to sprint diagonally towards the bar, then curve and leap backward over the bar, which gave him a much lower center of mass in flight than traditional techniques. Debbie Brill was developing her similar “Brill Bend” around the same time. This approach has seen nearly universal adoption since Fosbury’s performance in Mexico. Though he never returned to the Olympics, Fosbury continued to be involved in athletics after retirement and served on the executive board of the World Olympians Association.
In 2014, Fosbury unsuccessfully challenged Steve Miller for a seat in the Idaho House of Representatives. Fosbury ran for Blaine County Commissioner against incumbent Larry Schoen in 2018, won the seat, and took office in 2019.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dick Fosbury was an American high jumper who won a gold medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics. He is considered one of the most influential athletes in the history of track and field for revolutionizing the high jump event with his unique ‘Fosbury Flop’ technique.
The ‘Fosbury Flop’ was Dick Fosbury’s innovative high jumping technique, where he would sprint diagonally towards the bar, then curve and leap backward over it. This approach gave him a much lower center of mass in flight compared to traditional techniques.
Dick Fosbury won the gold medal in the high jump event at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.
After his Olympic victory, Dick Fosbury continued to be involved in athletics, serving on the executive board of the World Olympians Association. He also pursued a career in politics, unsuccessfully challenging Steve Miller for a seat in the Idaho House of Representatives in 2014 and winning a seat as Blaine County Commissioner in 2018.
Debbie Brill was a Canadian high jumper who was developing a similar ‘Brill Bend’ technique around the same time as Dick Fosbury’s ‘Fosbury Flop.’ Both approaches involved a backwards leap over the bar, which has since become the standard technique in high jumping.
3 Quotes by Dick Fosbury
- 1.
I didn’t train to make the Olympic team until 1968. I simply trained for the moment. I never even imagined I would be an Olympic athlete. It always seemed to evolve.
Dick FosburyAmerican athletics competitor, high jumper
- 2.
I adapted an antiquated style and modernized it to something that was efficient. I didn’t know anyone else in the world would be able to use it and I never imagined it would revolutionize the event.
Dick FosburyAmerican athletics competitor, high jumper
- 3.
When you reach that elite level, 90 percent is mental and 10 percent is physical. You are competing against yourself. Not against the other athlete.
Dick FosburyAmerican athletics competitor, high jumper