BEIJING, Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ — Dick Fosbury, gold medalist from the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City and innovator of the high jump technique dubbed the “Fosbury Flop,” which revolutionized the sport and is now considered its standard, was stricken by cancer lymphoma in March. After undergoing surgery, radiation and chemotherapy treatment at the University of New Mexico Cancer Center, the State of New Mexico’s Official Cancer Center based on the UNM campus in Albuquerque, NM, Fosbury is currently attending the 2008 Olympics Games in Beijing to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the “Fosbury Flop” and inspire cancer patients throughout the world.
Fosbury, along with help from his wife Robin Tomasi, is writing a blog based on his experiences as a cancer patient at the Beijing Olympics. “I hope to inspire and motivate cancer patients by sharing the unique experiences, joys and challenges I’m having at the 2008 Olympic Games through the eyes of a former Olympian and cancer patient. I understand the issues they are facing and want to let them know that we are fighting the disease together,” said Fosbury. “With the high jump finals on Tuesday, I have a lot to write about and share with my fellow patients and survivors at the UNM Cancer Center and around the world.”
“We have received a tremendous response to Dick’s blog and the cancer patients are really enjoying it,” said Dr. Cheryl Willman, director and chief executive officer of the UNM Cancer Center. “His experiences at the Beijing Olympics are really striking a chord with cancer patients, cancer survivors and their families. Dick’s honesty, openness and sincerity is inspiring hope and understanding in cancer patients from around the world.”
Fosbury is currently the president of the World Olympians Association, an alumni group of former Olympic athletes, and a civil engineer in Ketchum, Idaho.
The University of New Mexico Cancer Center is one of the nation’s 63 premier National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Centers, with the largest team of cancer specialists and researchers in the state.
Fosbury’s blog can be found at http://www.cancer.unm.edu/.
UNM Cancer Center
CONTACT: James Korenchen of JKPR, +1-505-797-6671,[email protected], for UNM Cancer Center; or Stephanie Cartier of UNMCancer Center, +1-505-272-2265, [email protected]
Web site: http://www.cancer.unm.edu/
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