Pat McCormick (diver)
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| Olympic medal record | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Diving | |||
| Gold | 1952 Helsinki | 3 m Springboard | |
| Gold | 1952 Helsinki | 10 m Platform | |
| Gold | 1956 Melbourne | 3 m Springboard | |
| Gold | 1956 Melbourne | 10 m Platform | |
Pat McCormick is the only woman diver in history to win 3 m Springboard and 10 meter platform gold medals in back-to-back Olympics.
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[edit] Growing up
Pat McCormick was born in a bare apartment above a grocery store in Seal Beach, California. Her father, a World War I hero, died on Skid Row. Her mother worked all hours to pay the rent.
For fun, they swam, did flips off the bridge over Alamitos Bay, hung out at Muscle Beach in Santa Monica, and competed in every competition they could find.
A diving coach spotted Pat roughhousing , admired her strength and raw talent, invited her to the prestigious Los Angeles Athletic club, found a bathing suit for her, introduced her to two of the world’s premier divers, Victoria Draves and Sammy Lee – and inspired a dream – to compete in the Olympic Games.
In 1948, scarcely 18 she finished fourth in the Olmpics Trials by half an eyelash – 1/100th of a point.
[edit] 1952 and 1956 Olympics
In the 1952 Summer Olympics at Helsinki, Pat competed in the 10 metre platform and 3 metre springboard competitions, winning both.
In the 1956 Summer Olympics at Melbourne, Pat competed same two events and repeated her gold medal performances. No other women was won double-double in Olympic diving.
[edit] Sports titles
Holder of 27 national titles and 3 Pan American Games gold medals.
[edit] Honors
Recipient of Athlete of the Year - Sports Illustrated; Woman Athlete of the Year- United Press International and Associated Press; Babe Zaharis Trophy; Thurman Munson Award; Recipient of the James E. Sullivan Trophy for Outstanding Amateur Athlete of the Year.
Elected to the Olympic Hall of Fame December 12, 1985.
In 1990 honored as one of 20 top “Athletes of the Year’ by Sports Illustrated in celebration of their 35th Anniversary.
Since then, honors have been nonstop and unparalleled… the Ed Sullivan show…Cover of Sports Illustrated…American Women Athlete of the Year…First Woman elected to the U.S. Swimming Hall of Fame…Long Beach Century Club Hall of Fame…Century Club Athlete of the Year…Official Olympic representative to two U.S. Presidents…One of nine U.S. athletes to carry the Olympic flag in opening ceremonies of the Los Angeles Games in 1984…World Sport Humanitarian Hall of Fame.
[edit] Post-Olympics
Since her Olympic Games triumphs, Pat has translated her skills as a leader and motivator into inspirational presentations for major corporations including IBM, Xerox and Sports Illustrated. Pat has established a foundation to support her activities – Pat McCormick Educational Foundation.
Pat’s awards and achievements have brought her great pleasure and fame, but her greatest rewards, she insists, come from “my kids” – known by her T-shirts as “Pat’s Lil’ Champs.”
Pat and her volunteers, many of them fellow Olympic medallists, work with at-risk and economically challenged young students. Her motto is “love our children, teach our children, for they are our future.” Her philosophy is simple and profound – “if you have a dream and a passion, and you really believe, you will find a way.”
Pat teaches her kids the process to make it happen. She teaches them to put focus, direction and hope into their lives.
Since winning four gold medals on the friendly field of strife, Pat has filled the role of student, mother, professor, radio and television commentator, professional speaker, entertainer, fund-raiser, and carrying the flag for young folks in need.
Her dog, Cody, has graduated and is now a Trauma and Therapy Dog. Together, Pat and Cody have developed a new joy - working with children in hospitals and schools.
[edit] Education
Pat is a graduate and honored athlete of Wilson High, Long Beach City College and California State University, Long Beach.
