1 year ago
54
The "Fosbury Flop" has been wide utilized successful the precocious leap since Dick Fosbury utilized itDick Fosbury - the antheral who revolutionised the precocious leap successful athletics - has died astatine the property of 76.
The American leapt backwards implicit the barroom to triumph golden astatine the 1968 Mexico Olympics successful a method which became known arsenic the 'Fosbury Flop' and is utilized by precocious jumpers today.
At the Games Fosbury acceptable a past grounds of 2.24 metres utilizing his method.
Writing connected Instagram, Fosbury's cause Ray Schulte said his lawsuit had died connected Sunday.
"It is with a precise dense bosom I person to merchandise the quality that agelong clip person and lawsuit Dick Fosbury passed distant peacefully successful his slumber aboriginal Sunday greeting aft a abbreviated bout with a recurrence of lymphoma," wrote Schulte.
"Dick volition beryllium greatly missed by friends and fans from astir the world. A existent legend, and person of all."
Fosbury began experimenting with the 'flop' astatine schoolhouse and, encouraged by his coaches, helium had all-but perfected it by the clip helium was successful higher education.
In the Olympic precocious leap last of 1968, the 6ft 5in jock cleared 2.24m connected his 3rd effort to triumph the gold.
"He changed an full lawsuit everlastingly with a method that looked brainsick astatine the clip but the effect made it the standard," said American four-time Olympic champion and BBC pundit Michael Johnson.
Fosbury is survived by his woman Robin Tomasi, lad Erich and stepdaughters Stephanie Thomas-Phipps and Kristin Thompson.
"Our athletics mislaid a existent fable and innovator with the passing of Dick Fosbury," said the USA Track and Field (USATF).
"He invented the "Fosbury Flop", was a golden medallist astatine the 1968 Games, and remained an advocator for athletes his full life. Fosbury's bequest volition unrecorded connected for generations to come."
USATF main enforcement Max Siegel said helium was "deeply saddened" by Fosbury's passing and called him a "true fable and pioneer successful the satellite of way and field".
He added: "We volition ever beryllium grateful for his contributions to the athletics and his interaction connected generations of athletes who followed successful his footsteps.
"Dick volition beryllium profoundly missed but his bequest volition unrecorded connected arsenic an inspiration to all."
English (US)