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== The Flop ==

== The Flop ==

A skinny young man having limited athletic ability had a determination to do his very best and win.  He picked the high jump event, but could only clear about 5' 3", nowhere near what was needed to win any competitions.  But he worked tirelessly, trying all known techniques for jumping over a bar.  Still, he could not improve to where he could win.

A skinny young man having limited athletic ability had a determination to do his very best and win.  He picked the high jump event, but could only clear about 5' 3", nowhere near what was needed to win any competitions.  But he worked tirelessly, trying all known techniques for jumping over a bar.  Still, he could not improve to the point where he could win.

Yet he did not give up, and harnessed his competitive spirit to invent a revolutionary style of jumping back-first over the bar.  Though lacking in athletic gifts of his competitors, the young man improved his jumping ability by a foot and more.  He began to win.

Yet he did not give up, and harnessed his competitive spirit to invent a revolutionary style of jumping back-first over the bar.  Though lacking the athletic gifts of his competitors, the young man improved his jumping ability by a foot and more.  He began to win.

His peculiar style attracted mockery and name-calling, as people derided his technique as the "flop".  But that did not faze him, and he continued to jump in the direction opposite to all his competitors.  Despite winning the national college high jump event, experts still considered his success to be a fluke and his approach to be a joke.

His peculiar style attracted mockery and name-calling, as people derided his technique as the "flop".  But that did not faze him, and he continued to jump in the direction opposite to all his competitors.  Despite winning the national college high jump event, experts still considered his success to be a fluke and his approach to be a joke.

When it came time for the [[Olympics]] no one considered the young man to have a chance, and more athletic competitors were favorites to win the high jump event.  The whole world was riveted to the television screen as the young man flawlessly cleared every height as the bar was raised again and again.  When the bar was finally raised to an Olympic record height of 7' 4 1/4", only the young man and his "flop" were able to jump over it.  He had won the gold medal.

When it came time for the [[Olympics]], no one considered the young man to have a chance, and his more athletic competitors were favorites to win the high jump event.  The whole world was riveted to the television screen as the young man flawlessly cleared every height as the bar was raised again and again.  When the bar was finally raised to an Olympic record height of 7' 4 1/4", only the young man and his "flop" were able to jump over it.  He had won the gold medal.

Virtually immediately everyone else, including those who had mercilessly mocked him, began praising and imitating his style.  To this day it is known as the "Fosbury Flop."<ref>http://www.usatf.org/halloffame/TF/showBio.asp?HOFIDs=57</ref>

Virtually immediately everyone else, including those who had mercilessly mocked him, began praising and imitating his style.  To this day it is known as the "Fosbury Flop."<ref>http://www.usatf.org/halloffame/TF/showBio.asp?HOFIDs=57</ref>