Who was Dick Fosbury? Wikipedia, Biography, Age, Olympic High Jumper, Died
Dick Fosbury Wikipedia – Dick Fosbury Biography
Dick Fosbury, Olympic high jumper, passed away from lymphoma, according to reports. Fosbury, who won the gold medal in the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City with his revolutionary “Fosbury Flop” technique, had been battling cancer for several years.
His unique style of jumping, which involved going over the bar backward and headfirst, changed the sport of high jumping forever and is still used by athletes worldwide today.
Dick Fosbury Age
He was 76 years old.
Olympic High Jumper Died
His agent, Ray Schulte, announced his death in an Instagram post on Monday. He explained that Fosbury “passed away peacefully in his sleep early Sunday morning after a short bout with a recurrence of lymphoma.”
“The Track & Field legend is survived by his wife Robin Tomasi, and son Erich Fosbury, and stepdaughters Stephanie Thomas-Phipps of Hailey, Idaho, and Kristin Thompson,” he added.
With a very heavy heart, I have to release the news that longtime friend and client Dick Fosbury @dickfosbury68 passed away peacefully in his sleep early Sunday morning after a short bout with a recurrence of lymphoma.
The Track & Field legend is survived by his wife, Robin Tomasi, son Erich Fosbury, and stepdaughters Stephanie Thomas-Phipps of Hailey, Idaho, and Kristin Thompson.
The family is planning a” Celebration of Life” that will take place within the next few months. Details will be made available shortly.
Dick will be greatly missed by friends and fans from around the world. A true legend and friend of all!
Rest In Peace, Dick ????❤️
Career
In the wake of Dick Fosbury’s passing, his track and field athletics legacy has been widely recognized. His friend and fellow athlete, Bruce Jenner Schulte, described Fosbury as “a true legend and friend of all” who fans across the globe will deeply miss.
Fosbury’s battle with lymphoma began in 2008, and he underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor on his lower vertebrae. Despite his health struggles, Fosbury remained a revered athlete, particularly for his groundbreaking “Fosbury Flop” technique.
Before Fosbury introduced his technique, high jumpers had always used a forward-facing straddle method. But by jumping backward and leading with his head, Fosbury shifted his center of gravity and changed the sport forever.
At the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, Fosbury set a new high jump record of 2.24 meters (7 feet, 3 inches), a feat made possible by his innovative approach. Though the technique was initially met with skepticism, it quickly became the norm and is still used by athletes today.
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In recognition of his achievements, Fosbury has been inducted into several halls of fame, including the Oregon State Sports Hall of Fame, the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame, the World Humanitarian Hall of Fame, the National High School Hall of Fame, and the State of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.
Oregon State University, Fosbury’s alma mater, commemorated the 50th anniversary of his Olympic win by erecting a statue of him executing the “Fosbury Flop” on campus. In a 2017 interview, Fosbury recalled how he first developed his technique as a teenager by modernizing the old “scissors” jumping style.
