George Bretz, age 14, of Fargo, N.D., for his question:

WHO ORIGINATED THE FOSBURY FLOP?

Fosbury flop is the name of a style used in the sport of high jumping. With this type of jump, the athlete goes over the bar backwards and lands on his shoulders and back.

The Fosbury flop is a jumping style that was originated in 1968 by a student at Oregon State University named Dick Fosbury. He set an Olympic high jump record of seven feet, four and a quarter inches.

Today most high jumpers use the Fosbury flop although some still use the western roll or the straddle.

An athlete using the Fosbury flop starts his approach straight toward the bar but swings to his right just before jumping. He then takes off on his outside foot and turns his back to the bar. Then he arches his back over the bar and kicks his legs out to clear it.

Today, a high jumper must leap at least seven feet in a major meet in order to finish among the top three competitors.