Dr. Samuel ("Sammy") Lee (born August 1, 1920 in Fresno, California; of Korean descent) is the first Asian American to win an Olympic gold medal for the United States[1] and the first man to win back-to-back gold medals in Olympic platform diving.
Sammy Lee also won a bronze medal in springboard diving in the 1948 games. His accomplishments were not limited to the athletic field. Dr. Lee was a student-athlete at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, where he received his M.D. in 1947. He went on to serve in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in Korea from 1953–55, where he specialized in the diseases of the ear. In 1953, while serving his tour of duty in Korea, he won the James E. Sullivan Award, which is awarded annually by the Amateur Athletic Union to the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. He went on to coach Olympic divers including Pat McCormick, Bob Webster, and Greg Louganis. He is a member of the US Olympic Hall of Fame.
References
- ^ Steve Almasy: After 60 years, Olympians are fast friends again, CNN.com, 22 Aug 2008
External links
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