Robert Lynn Clotworthy (May 8, 1931 – June 1, 2018)[2] was an American diver. He competed in the 3 m springboard at the 1952 and 1956 Olympics and won a bronze and a gold medal, respectively. He also won two medals at the 1955 Pan American Games. In 1980 he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.[3]
 Clotworthy at the 1952 Olympics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Robert Lynn Clotworthy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | May 8, 1931 Newark, New Jersey, U.S.[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | June 1, 2018 (aged 87) Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 3 in (160 cm)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 132 lb (60 kg)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Diving | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | New York Athletic Club[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Early life
editClotworthy was born in Newark, New Jersey and grew up in nearby Westfield. He began training for his Olympic career in high school, spending hours each day practicing dives and perfecting them. Clotworthy dove for the Westfield High School team, Plainfield Swim Club and Westfield YMCA, where coaches Ed Gillen and Stan Dudeck coached him. When he competed for the Olympics, he participated and dove for the New York Athletic Club. He went on to be coached in Ohio State by Mike Peppe. Others who helped Clotworthy during his career were Hobie Billingsley, Phil Moriarty, Charlie Batterman, Glen and Pat McCormick.[4] He competed in the 1955 Pan-American Games in Mexico City, where he met Cynthia Gill, a member of the U.S. swimming team. They married the following year. After retiring from competition, Clotworthy coached at Army, Dartmouth, Princeton, Arizona State, Texas, and New Mexico. From 1981 through 1984, he produced six NAIA champions at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.[5] Clotworthy attended Ohio State University under diving and swimming coach Mike Peppe where he majored in Physical Education. He graduated in 1954, retired from diving in 1956, and began a distinguished career in coaching, from which he retired in 2006.
National titles and accomplishments
edit- 1951 AAU Outdoor Nationals 3 meter champion.
- 1953 AAU Indoor Nationals 1 meter champion.
- 1953 AAU Outdoor Nationals 3 meter champion.
- 1956 AAU Indoor Nationals 1 meter champion.
- 1956 AAU Outdoor Nationals 3 meter champion.
Coaching accomplishments
edit- 1955–56 Coached diving at West Point.
- 1958 Coached diving at Dartmouth College.
- 1958 Coached diving at Dartmouth College.
- 1958–70 Coached swimming and diving at Princeton University.
- 1970–71 Coached diving at the Arizona State University.
- 1972–76 Coached diving at the University of Texas.
- 1980–1984 Coached diving at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
- 1984–1996 Coached diving at Albuquerque Academy, New Mexico.
- 1997–2006 Coached Age Group Swimming – Taos Swim Club, Taos, New Mexico.
See also
editReferences
edit
- ^ a b c d Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Bob Clotworthy". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020.
- ^ "Olympic Diving Champion Bob Clotworthy Passes Away at 87". SwimmingWorldMagazine.com. June 11, 2018.
- ^ "Robert Clotworthy (USA)". ISHOF.org. International Swimming Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on October 28, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
- ^ "Bob Clotworthy Olympian – Diving site for Divers". flipnrip.com. Archived from the original on March 16, 2008. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
- ^ "Robert "Bob" Lynn Clotworthy". hickoksports.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2002. Retrieved February 19, 2009.