Dick Fosbury was an American athlete who had perfected a new method of jumping which involved running towards the bar, turning, arching the back and jumping backwards but head first over the bar.
The new method, which was named the ‘Fosbury Flop’ was first seen when Dick Fosbury used it to win the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City clearing an impressive 7 feet 41/4 inches (224 centimetres).
The traditional method of jumping the high jump was by using the scissors method or the straddle method. However, from 1968 onwards the Fosbury Flop has been the preferred method for athletes.
The picture (left) shows athlete Yelena Slesarenko using the Fosbury Flop at the Stavanger Games in 2007.
