Dick Fosbury, the Olympic gold medal winner who went on to settle in Idaho, died at the age of 76 from lymphoma on Sunday morning, his publicist Ray Schulte confirmed on social media.
Fosbury was famous as the creator of the eponymous “Fosbury Flop” that revolutionized the sport of high jumping. The move would lead him to victory in the men’s high jump at the 1968 Summer Games in Mexico City.
“His gold medal victory at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics not only cemented his place in U.S. Olympic history, but also left an indelible mark on the global athletic community, U.S. Track and Field CEO Max Siegel confirmed the death in a statement. “We will always be grateful for his contributions to the sport and his impact on generations of athletes who followed in his footsteps.”
