Among those we remember are Tori Bowie, Dick Fosbury, Jim Hines, Ralph Boston, Mike McFarlane, Shaun Pickering and Tim Lobinger
The No.1 Olympic sport has lost a number of valuable and much-loved coaches and world-class athletes plus administrators and officials in 2023.
Here are some of the obituaries and tributes we have published in the past 12 months.
Dick Fosbury in 1968 (Mark Shearman)
Dick Fosbury
The 1968 gold medallist revolutionised the high jump by inventing the ‘Fosbury flop’ – an innovative technique which caught the imagination of the world.
He died from cancer just days after turning 76 and his agent, Ray Schulte, said: “Dick will be greatly missed by friends and fans from around the world. A true legend, and friend of all!”
Obituary here.
Jim Hines (Getty)
Jim Hines
American sprinter held the world 100m record for 15 years and won Olympic 100m and 4x100m titles at the 1968 Mexico Olympics.
He died in June aged 76.
Obituary here.
Mike McFarlane (Mark Shearman)
Mike McFarlane
Olympic sprint relay silver medallist and Commonwealth 200m champion in the 1980s “Mac”, as he was known, became a popular and successful sprints coach but died following a heart attack aged 63.
“Mike was an amazing son, husband, father, brother, coach and friend,” his family said in a statement.
Obituary here plus tributes here.
Ron Roddan and Linford Christie (Mark Shearman)
Ron Roddan
The 91-year-old sprints coach is best known for guiding Linford Christie to Olympic and world 100m titles but also coached a number of other world-class athletes like Darren Campbell and Katharine Merry.
“Ron was devoted to his athletes, brutally honest, pushing them to their absolute best,” said Christie’s management agency Nuff Respect. “This most modest of men was at his happiest with a stopwatch in his hand, standing trackside.”
Obituary here.
Peter Matthews (Mark Shearman)
Peter Matthews
One of the most respected voices in the sport and arguably the world’s foremost track and field statistician died aged 78.
As well as being a statistician he was a book editor, stadium announcer, radio and television commentator, historian and club president with Enfield & Haringey and died in his sleep in September after a recent history of heart problems.
Obituary here.
Tori Bowie (Getty)
Tori Bowie
The 2017 world 100m champion and multiple Olympic medallist tragically died at home during childbirth aged just 32.
“Tori was a champion… a beacon of light that…
CLICK HERE to Read the Full Original Article at AW…