American athlete Dick Fosbury, who won the gold medal in the high jump at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, had been passionate about high jump since middle school. However, he struggled to clear the heights that other students could easily jump over and often failed.
At the time, the prevailing high jump technique involved jumping forward with both feet together, which Fosbury found difficult.
As a result, he began searching for a method that suited him better, experimenting with various jumping techniques. Through repeated trials and attempts, he identified one technique as the most feasible: jumping and clearing the bar with his back facing it. He later stated that this method not only made clearing the bar easier but also proved to be more effective in improving maximum high jump performance.
This case is considered one of the best examples of critical thinking skills and is frequently used as an example in major training programs. Let us examine it in more detail.
- When are critical thinking skills needed?
- When a problem arises and the best possible solution is required.
- The problem Fosbury faced: He was unable to clear the height that other athletes could jump.
- Identifying ways to solve the problem: He analyzed the existing high jump techniques from multiple perspectives, identified their weaknesses, and developed alternative approaches that might suit him better.
- Testing the alternatives and selecting the most effective one: Among the options he considered effective, clearing the bar with his back proved to be the most suitable for him at the time. First, it was easier; second, it reduced the risk of knocking the bar down with his feet; and third, it allowed him to jump higher.
One important point must be mentioned here. When he first experimented with this technique, he was mocked and ridiculed by other athletes and the public.
As a result of this process, Fosbury broke the world record in the high jump in 1968 and won the Olympic gold medal. Moreover, his back-first technique became known as the “Fosbury Flop” and has since remained a recognized method in the history of athletics.
