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Sporting Witness: The Fosbury flop

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The Fosbury Flop

03/09/2011

The Fosbury flop

BBC World Service - Sporting Witness, The Fosbury flop

How American athlete Dick Fosbury revolutionised the high jump

A 2011 interview with Dick Fosbury, the American athlete whose 'Fosbury flop' technique revolutionised high-jumping, and made him an Olympic champion.

In the 1960s, American athlete Dick Fosbury revolutionised high-jumping by inventing the 'Fosbury flop'. Instead of diving or scissor-kicking over the high-jump bar, Fosbury floated across on his back. He went on to win a gold medal at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City.

In 2011, Alan Johnston spoke to Dick Fosbury for Sporting Witness.

Image: Dick Fosbury's winning leap at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics (Credit: Bettmann/Getty Images)

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