About
Olympic gold medal winning high jumper who revolutionized the sport, developing the back-first technique that later became standard practice. After retiring, he served on the executive board of the World Olympians Association. He took office as Blaine County Commissioner in 2019.
Before Fame
He competed in track and field at Oregon State University.
Trivia
His high jumping technique was initially met with scrutiny and was dubbed the "Fosbury Flop" because people thought he looked like a fish flopping in a boat when he jumped.
Family Life
He grew up in Medford, Oregon.
Associated With
He took his gold medal at the 1968 Olympics where African-American runners Tommie Smith and John Carlos famously promoted civil rights by raising their black-gloved fists in the air.
