Passages: Pat McCormick, Olympic Champion Diver and Corridor of Fame, Dies at 92
Pat Keller McCormick, First diver inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame As a part of the inaugural starter class, he died on March 7, 2023, on the age of 92. She was the primary feminine or male diver to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals on each side in back-to-back Olympic Video games. In 1952 and 1956 she was champion on each the 3-metre springboard and the 10-metre platform. Greg Louganis It repeated in 1984 and 1988.
Pat McCormick was born on Might 12, 1930, in Seal Seaside, California, the place he lived most of his life. He began by leaping off bridges in Lengthy Seaside however finally moved on to the Los Angeles Athletic Membership, the place he befriended the diver stars. Sammy LeeAnd Vicki Dravesserving to and inspiring him.
After a shocking second on the 1947 Nationwide Platform occasion, Pat traveled to Detroit to compete within the 1948 Olympic Trials. He missed the group by lower than some extent. It was a turning level for Pat.
In 1949 she married Glenn McCormick, who was not solely her husband but additionally her coach. In 1949, he gained the Nationwide Platform Occasion in San Antonio, Texas, his first main gathering. The next yr, he shocked everybody by not solely defending his title on the platform, but additionally profitable each springboard competitions: 1- and 3-metre. The next yr, in 1951, she made an all-time first in diving. That very same yr she gained all 5 nationwide championships for girls: two indoors and three open air.
That very same yr, Pat competed in her first worldwide competitors on the Pan American Video games, held in Buenos Aries. She gained gold on the platform and silver on the springboard. He lastly certified for the Olympic group in 1952 and didn’t disappoint. Competing in Helsinki, Finland, she gained gold in each the ladies’s occasions, springboard and platform.
Pat continued to dominate the game of diving for the following 4 years, profitable a complete of 27 nationwide championships and a gold medal in springboard and platform on the 1955 Pan American Video games in Mexico Metropolis.
McCormick efficiently defended his crown on each the 3-metre springboard and the 10-metre platform on the second Olympic Video games in Melbourne, Australia, turning into the one individual to have a “double-double” in diving historical past. In Olympic competitors. It was this success that led the Swimming Corridor of Fame’s 52 coach nominating committee to pick out McCormick because the world’s main feminine diver and the primary individual to be inducted into the Corridor of Fame.
1964 Olympic gold medalist and good friend, miki king She stated of Pat: “It opened the door for feminine athletes.” Olympic Diver and previous good friend, Tom GompfServing to Pat later in life, stated: “Pat spent his life supporting the Olympic motion, particularly on the ’84 Video games once they got here again to his hometown.”
Along with being admitted to ISHOF, Pat McCormick has additionally been inducted into the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum. She gained the 1956 Sullivan Award, the Babe Zaharias Feminine Athlete of the Yr, the Helm’s Corridor North American Athlete of the Yr, the Thurman Munson Award, and the Related Press Feminine Athlete of the Yr – simply to call a couple of.
Pat handed away on March 7 at an assisted residing house in Orange County, California. He was 92 years previous. He left behind a daughter, 1984 Olympic silver and 1988 bronze medalist, ISHOF Honoree, Kelly McCormick Robertson, and son, Tim McCormick. Pat may even be missed by a lot of his pals in his group at Seal Seaside.
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