Sammy Lee
Through The Mail Autograph Address-
Sammy Lee, M.D.
16537 Harbour Lane
Huntington Beach, CA 92705
Dr. Sammy Lee, M.D. was born in Fresno, California in 1920 to Korean immigrants. His father Soonkee Rhee came to California in 1907 having first stopped in Hawaii. He then came to California and attended Occidental College graduating in 1910.
Dr. Lee was the first Asian American to win an Olympic gold medal from the 10m platform and a bronze medal from the 3m springboard at the 1948 London Olympics as a 1st. Lt. in the U.S. Army Medical Corps and became the 1st male diver to win back-to-back Olympic diving gold medals, when as a Major he won the 10m. platform at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. In 1953 he was awarded the James E. Sullivan Trophy, given to the most outstanding amateur athlete of the U.S. Dr. Lee was the 1st person of color to win it. In 1954 he was Sports Ambassador to Southeast Asia, touring Southeast Asia, coaching and giving diving exhibitions, and lecturing on the Olympics. After resigning his Regular Army Commission, he went into private practice as an ear, nose, and throat specialist. He was a member of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports from 1950 to 1990.
In 1956 he was the personal presidential representative for President Eisenhower to the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, President Nixon to the 1972 Munich Olympics, and President Reagan to the 1988 Seoul Olympics. He was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, and International Hall of Fame. He was the U.S. Olympic diving coach in the 1960 Rome Olympics and the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, where his protege Bob Webster won the gold in platform diving. He was the coach of Greg Louganis at the 1976 Olympics when he got the silver medal.
Today he is the oldest Olympic living diving gold medalist.
Tags: athlete, diver, gold medalist, Olympians, Olympics, Sammy Lee
