1968 Dick Fosbury Mexico City Summer Olympics Worn Team USA Singlet from The Dick Fosbury Collection - Photo Matched!...

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The Fosbury Flop conquers the world!

1968 Dick Fosbury Mexico City Summer Olympics Worn Team USA Singlet from The Dick Fosbury Collection - Photo Matched! Second only to the Gold Medal itself in significance among the contents of The Dick Fosbury Collection, this Team USA singlet is almost certainly the one worn by Fosbury for his Gold Medal leap, although the experts at Sports Investors Authentication were unable to locate any definitively dated photograph clear enough to make that attribution. The photograph providing enough clarity to make a match is undated, but we wish to emphasize that Fosbury had assured his widow that this was the only singlet issued to him for wear in Mexico City, and we'd be inclined to take them both at their word.

Certainly there is no inconsistency between the garment and footage of the Olympic record 2.24 meter (7 feet, 3 3/8 inches) jump that delivered that Gold Medal to Fosbury and expedited the global conversion to his namesake "Flop," and close inspection reveals four pin holes on the chest that perfectly match the placement of his number "227" contestant placard. The singlet is crafted from feather-light navy nylon with red-on-white tackle twill "USA" on chest and a lightweight chamois strip at interior collar with a very faded handwritten identifier that appears to read "Fosbury" with some number or symbol afterward. Some small holes and a rectangular stitching pattern at shoulders is likely due to presentation in a framed display. There are no manufacturer's tagging, likely due to the desire to shave off any extra gram of weight.

It is unquestionably the most important Olympics garment that Heritage has had the privilege to present since John Carlos' "Black Power Salute" track jacket sold for over half a million dollars in our February 2025 Platinum Night auction. Letter of provenance from widow of Dick Fosbury. LOA from Heritage Auctions. LOA from Sports Investors Authentication.