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Dick Fosbury

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Athlete

The Resume

    (March 6, 1947-March 12, 2023)
    Born in Portland, Oregon
    Won a gold medal in the high jump at the 1968 Summer Olympics held in Mexico City
    Credited with the high jump technique known as the 'Fosbury Flop' (run diagonally towards the bar, then twist the body to go over head first with back to the bar)

Why he might be annoying:

    He invented the flop because he couldn't master the standard high jump technique at the time; the straddle and scissors kick.
    A Montana high jumper was photographed 'flopping' over the bar in 1963, years before Fosbury was credited as inventing the technique.
    When he used the technique during the Olympics, fans chanted 'Olé' every time he made it.
    After winning gold a U.S. coach stated, 'Kids imitate champions. If they try to imitate Fosbury, he'll wipe out an entire generation of high jumpers because they all will have broken necks' (didn't happen).

Why he might not be annoying:

    After he first flopped at age 16 his personal best improved by 1 foot, 3 inches in two years (to 6 feet, 6.75 inches).
    He set an Olympic record of 7'4¼ to win high jump gold.
    His technique caught on quickly and is the standard for most modern high jumpers.
    After retiring from competition he became a successful civil engineer.
    He is of an elite few whose name is associated with the word 'flop' in a good way.
    The Dutch experimental band Fosbury Flop named him honorary band member on their website.

Credit: Scar Tactics


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 115 Votes: 50.43% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 9 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 22.22% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 13 Votes: 38.46% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 16 Votes: 12.50% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 22 Votes: 36.36% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 31 Votes: 38.71% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 43 Votes: 37.21% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 125 Votes: 44.80% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 70 Votes: 41.43% Annoying