Richard Degener

Richard Degener
Personal information
Nationality:	United States
Discipline (s) :	Art, diving
Society:	Detroit Athletic Club
Birthday:	March 14, 1912
Place of birth:	Detroit , Michigan
Date of death:	August 24, 1995
Place of death:	Grand Rapids , Michigan

Richard Kempster Degener (born March 14, 1912 in Detroit , Michigan , † August 24, 1995 in Grand Rapids , Michigan) was an American diver . His greatest success was winning the gold medal in jumping from the 3-meter board at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin .

In April 1936, Degener, along with other outstanding athletes in the city, was honored for his athletic achievements at a banquet on the so-called Champions Day in Detroit , Michigan . To honor Detroit, which produced many successful athletes at the time, the city was given a plaque as "City of Champions" by the White House in July of that year. This should actually contain 5 pictures of athletes. A baseball player, a football player, a hockey player, a motorboat driver, and a boxer. But since the sponsor Joe Louis lost a fight against Max Schmeling shortly before the plaque was awarded, he was replaced by the high diver Degener. Only one month after this award, Degener was able to win the gold medal at the summer games in Berlin's Olympic swimming stadium, whereas four years earlier he had to be content with bronze.

Degener lost during his three years at college (1931-1934) not a single competition and was able to win the Big Ten Conference and the National College Championship.

In the competitions of the Amateur Athletic Union he was also unbeaten for years and was able to win 14 national titles, including five indoor titles from the 3-meter board in a row.

Degener later earned his living by participating in Billy Rose's Aquacade, a dance and music show organized by the namesake Billy Rose .

In 1971 he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame .

See also

• List of water divers in the International Swimming Hall of Fame

Web links

• profile
• Michigan Athletes have made Olympic history, Patricia Zacharias and Vivian M Baulch, The Detroit News

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Sports . The Windsor Daily Star (April 20, 1936)
2. ^ Traverse City Record Eagle Newspaper Archives, Jun 29, 1936, p. 26 . Newspaperarchive.com. Retrieved on 2017-09-26.
3. ↑ Louis 'Name Is Stricken From the Champions' plaque . The Pittsburgh Press (June 21, 1936)
4. ↑ DICK DEGENER (USA) 1971 Honor Diver. Retrieved November 6, 2019 .