Melbourne December 1956, Games of the XVI Olympiad: Patricia MCCORMICK of the United States performs in the 3m springboard diving. As in 1952 in Helsinki, she won both the springboard and platform events of this Olympiad. Credit: IOC Olympic Museum Collections

Other names: MAC CORMICK, Patricia

MACCORMICK, Patricia

MC CORMICK, Patricia

MCCORMICK, Patricia Joan

MCCORMICK, Pat

Born: 12 May 1930

Birthplace: Seal Beach (United States)

Nationality: United States

Sport: Aquatics

ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Helsinki 1952

Melbourne / Stockholm 1956

AWARDS

Olympic medals:

Gold: 4

Double Double Diver

Patricia McCormick won both the springboard and the platform diving events at both the 1952 and the 1956 Olympics. Her double-double Olympic diving victories have been matched only by Greg Louganis among the men. McCormick's second double victory at Melbourne came only eight months after the birth of her son. McCormick continued training throughout her pregnancy and swam 800 metres a day until two days before childbirth. Her margin of victory in the 1956 springboard, 142.36 to 125.89 (more than 16 points) for fellow American Jeanne Stunyo, remains the most impressive in the history of Olympic diving. McCormick's husband, John McCormick, was the AAU champion on the platform in 1950-51 and her daughter, Kelly, competed for the United States at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, winning a silver medal in 1984 and a bronze medal in 1988, both on the springboard.