1. Home
  2. Athletes
  3. Dick Fosbury

Dick Fosbury

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Administrator
SexMale
Full nameRichard Douglas "Dick"•Fosbury
Used nameDick•Fosbury
Born6 March 1947 in Portland, OregonUSA
Died12 March 2023 (aged 76 years 6 days) in Salt Lake City, UtahUSA
Measurements193 cm / 83 kg
AffiliationsOregon State University — Corvallis, OregonUSA
NOCUnited StatesUSA
Medals OG
Gold 1
Silver 0
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

Dick Fosbury will be remembered more for the high jump style he perfected than for his gold medal. With his “Fosbury Flop”, he completely revolutionized the event. Though now often called simply the Flop, many Eastern European jumpers called this style of jumping the Fosbury. While attending Oregon State he won the NCAA in 1968 and after his Olympic victory he won the title again in 1969. This was his only major post-Olympic victory and Fosbury turned professional in 1973, with limited success.

Fosbury later became a civil engineer near Sun Valley, Idaho working with Galena Engineering. He also became quite good at swing dancing and would later marry his swing dancing instructor. Fosbury served as President of the US Olympians Association and the World Olympians Association.

Personal Best: HJ – 7-4¼ (2.24) (1968).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1968 Summer Olympics Athletics USA Dick Fosbury
High Jump, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold

Olympic Records

Records may have been broken subsequently during the same competition.
Games Date Sport Event Phase Mark Pos
1968 Summer Olympics 20 October 1968 Athletics High Jump, Men Final Round 2.18 1
1968 Summer Olympics 20 October 1968 Athletics High Jump, Men Final Round 2.20 1
1968 Summer Olympics 20 October 1968 Athletics High Jump, Men Final Round 2.22 1
1968 Summer Olympics 20 October 1968 Athletics High Jump, Men Final Round 2.24 1

Organization roles

Role Organization Tenure NOC As
President World Olympians Association 2007—2011 USA Dick Fosbury