1930- American diver Women divers gained popularity in the years before World War I, as much for their attractiveness as for their skill. Until Pat McCormick entered the scene in the late 1940s, displaying remarkable agility and toughness, no one dominated the sport. The first and only woman diver to win two gold medals in two consecutive Olympic Games (the double-double), McCormick earned the pre…
1960- American diver Two-time Olympic gold medal winner Greg Louganis is generally considered by sportswriters and fans the best diver in the history of the sport. For years he was simply unbeatable in diving competitions. At the same time, his personal struggles as a closeted gay man often left him feeling alone and worthless. This combination of public adulation and private torment created a com…
1977- American diver Laura Wilkinson's inspiring story captured many hearts at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Wilkinson, a champion diver from the University of Texas, broke her foot only months before the Olympics but fought through the pain to defeat the heavily favored Chinese divers for the gold medal. It was the first time that an American woman had won a gold medal in platfor…
1978- Chinese diver Chinese diver Fu Mingxia had international success at such a young age that she prompted world diving Fu Mingxia officials to create rules requiring divers to be fourteen before they could appear in major competitions. At her first Olympic appearance in 1992, she was only thirteen, but was credited with advancing the difficulty of dives being performed in competitions. M…
