Dick Fosbury
American high jumper
Died when: 76 years 6 days (912 months)Star Sign: Pisces
Richard Douglas Fosbury (born March 6, 1947) was an American retired high jumper, who was considered one of the most influential athletes in the history of track and field.
Besides winning a gold medal at the 1968 Olympics, he revolutionized the high jump event with a "back-first" technique, now known as the Fosbury Flop, adopted by almost all high jumpers today.
His method was to sprint diagonally towards the bar, then curve and leap backwards over the bar, which gave him a much lower center of mass in flight than traditional techniques.
He continues to be involved in athletics and serves 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 January 2019.
