Richard Degener
Encyclopedia
Richard Kempster Degener (March 14, 1912 – August 24, 1995) was an American
diver
who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics
and in the 1936 Summer Olympics
.
In 1932 he won the bronze medal in the 3 metre springboard event. Described as the "Fred Astaire of diving", Degener competed at the 1932 Summer Olympics with University of Michigan
classmates, Eddie Tolan
and James Cristy
.
Four years later he won the gold medal in the 3 metre springboard competition.
Degener introduced the full layout in which his body seemed to soar, lazy-like and graceful in the air. This astonished the diving world and caused a buzz of admiration around the pool. "If there is one thing I've gotten out of sports, it's that I learned to be intense and to do the job."
Degener never lost a diving contest in college during the three years he represented Michigan from 1931 to 1934 as he took the Big Ten and National Collegiate championship. In AAU competition Dick was unbeaten for years as he won 14 national indoor and outdoor diving titles. He won four outdoor AAU Nationals in the high board representing the Detroit Athletic Club, and three NCAA titles for the University of Michigan. At the Indoor AAUs he won five straight three-meter springboard titles and two one-meter titles.
Degener later turned pro with the Billy Rose Aquacade when it opened in Cleveland.
In 1971, Degener was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diver
Diving
Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...
who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
and in the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
.
In 1932 he won the bronze medal in the 3 metre springboard event. Described as the "Fred Astaire of diving", Degener competed at the 1932 Summer Olympics with University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
classmates, Eddie Tolan
Eddie Tolan
Thomas Edward "Eddie" Tolan , nicknamed the "Midnight Express", was an American track and field athlete who compete in the Sprints. He set world records in the 100 yard dash and 100 meters event and Olympic records in the 100 meters and 200 meters events...
and James Cristy
James Cristy
James Crapo Cristy, Jr. was an American swimmer who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics.In the 1932 Olympics he won a bronze medal in the 1500 m freestyle event.He died in Kalamazoo, Michigan.-External links:...
.
Four years later he won the gold medal in the 3 metre springboard competition.
Degener introduced the full layout in which his body seemed to soar, lazy-like and graceful in the air. This astonished the diving world and caused a buzz of admiration around the pool. "If there is one thing I've gotten out of sports, it's that I learned to be intense and to do the job."
Degener never lost a diving contest in college during the three years he represented Michigan from 1931 to 1934 as he took the Big Ten and National Collegiate championship. In AAU competition Dick was unbeaten for years as he won 14 national indoor and outdoor diving titles. He won four outdoor AAU Nationals in the high board representing the Detroit Athletic Club, and three NCAA titles for the University of Michigan. At the Indoor AAUs he won five straight three-meter springboard titles and two one-meter titles.
Degener later turned pro with the Billy Rose Aquacade when it opened in Cleveland.
In 1971, Degener was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.