Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Ketchum man named president of Olympics group

Fosbury elected Saturday in Switzerland


Dick Fosbury

The U.S. Olympic Committee announced Saturday from Colorado Springs, Colo., that 1968 high jump Olympic gold medalist Dick Fosbury of Ketchum has been elected President of the World Olympians Association (WOA).

Fosbury, 60, a Portland, Ore., native, went to high school in Medford and was an Oregon State University athlete when he won the NCAA high jump title in 1968. He also won the high jump Olympic gold medal that year with a jump of nearly 7-4 ¼ at Mexico City.

The fourth General Assembly of the World Olympians Association took place at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, and concluded with Saturday's election of officers. With his appointment Fosbury will serve a four-year term as the head of the worldwide Olympian organization.

"I am thrilled and honored to be elected to this position with the World Olympians Association," said Fosbury, a Ketchum civil engineer and longtime supporter of youth track and field in the Wood River Valley. "I am committed to work hard and with my best efforts to build this association and develop a new strong relationship with the International Olympic Committee and the federations."

As a college athlete and member of the 1968 U.S. Olympic team, Fosbury revolutionized the high jump with the creation of what is now known as the "Fosbury Flop." The back-first technique became the standard approach for most high jumpers after his success at Mexico City. Fosbury is currently an officer with the U.S. Olympians Association.

Approximately 130 Olympians accepted the invitation to travel to Lausanne for the 12th anniversary of the World Olympians Association.

The increase in numbers of Olympians making the journey represents the ever-expanding support of Olympians worldwide for the development of the World Olympians Association and National Olympians Associations in their own countries.




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