Diving Info > Diving Stars of the Past > Sammy Lee > Tribute to

  A Tribute to Sammy
A Tribute to Sammy Lee (Olympian 1948 - 1952)

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Diving Star of the Past
You can still add your Tribute to Sammy by either, emailing Joelle (Through flipnrip's internal email) or type it in the "feedback panel" on the left of any page on flipnrip.

From Bette Barr Pipes

The place - Highpoint, N.C.
Event Nationals - Platform
Victim Bette Barr Pipes
Sammy watched Dick Smith suggest (haha) I learn a back 1 1/2 somersault pike off 10 meters because I had made the finals and Dick wanted me to perform a dive with dd. The third one I EVER did in my life was televised on Wide World of Sports. Sammy told me "Pray, go for it and stretch." I did and received 8's and 8 1/2's. Sammy was the 8 1/2. The extra half point was
for guts or stupidity. I could have killed myself. Thanks Sammy for your
encouragement - always.

Love ya

Bette Barr Pipes

From Larry Brennan

One of Sammy's "teaching techniques"  for learning Reverse dives and Back dives was to hold a long bamboo pole over the board and you were to reach for the pole in a pike position or lift your chest to it in an straight position, (which was call "Layout" at that time). This was a good learning tool.  However,Once you learned the dive the bamboo pole became a correction device, (I think we'd call it a weapon today) and you would feel the pole on your body at some point in the air, (and not in a positive way).  If you managed to escape the "pole" then you did a good dive.  But, if you missed your entry then the pole would usually find the top of your head when you surfaced. 

Larry Brennan

 

From Gloria Clem

When Sammy ran the Olympic torch in LA, I had the extreme pleasure of driving Frank Wong and his team from Hong Kong to downtown LA to watch Sammy.  What an outing to remember.  Frank spotted a parking place across 3 lanes of downtown traffic, jumped out of the car, quickly followed by his divers, leaving all three car doors open (a real Chinese fire drill) and proceeded to stand in the parking place while I circled the block to get back to it.

When Sammy came by our position, Frank was bouncing with joy and support.  His springy hat and 50 lbs of camera equipment bouncing right along with him.

From the run we joined Sammy and family at a dinner celebration where liquid refreshment flowed.  Sammy was, as always, the life of the party, but he was followed closely by Frank.  What a delight to watch these two in action.

It was a memorable time for me, and an honor to be included with Sammy the Diving Great and his cohorts.   God Bless you my friend, you have been an inspiration and a cornerstone in our structure!

Fondly,

Gloria Clem

 

From Judy Donie

.I've been trying to think of one special time with Sammy and that is hard. It was always so wonderful to see him on the pool deck at so many meets. He was always so great about interacting with all of the divers. I think my best memory is of watching him so willingly sign autographs for the young divers at the Age Group meets. I have a wonderful photo of my son, Scott, getting Sammy's autograph at Irvine, CA back in ....oh my, I think it was 1981, at Age Group Nationals. (Back then it was Junior Olympics)

Judy Donie
From Scott Donie (Olympian 1992)
I must have been about 11 years old when I first met Sammy. He always had a way of making me feel like I was special. He knew my name and he was always rooting for me and following my career. He took the time to get to know me and my family and he became our friends. I am truly honored to call him my friend. He is a legend. From my perspective he is the greatest ambassador of our sport that our country or the world has ever seen. Thank you Sammy for being Sammy.

Scott Donie


From Steve Eberle
I did not know much about this Sammy Lee prior to arriving in California during the fall of ‘79.

However, I now know and appreciate that he has made this world a better place through his actions and other’s recount of same.

Many thanks,

Ebo.

Steve Eberle, CCIM


From Nick Gavolas
 To me Sammy Lee is our first true superstar. and his legacy is long and fruitful.
 

Nick Gavolas
Head Diving Coach
Youngstown State University

 

From Frank Gorman (Olympian 1964)

Dear Sammy,
What a pleasure it is to know you. You have done so much for the sport of diving and the reputation of Americans all over the world.

Whether it is South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun trying to promote the benefits of conducting the 2014 Olympic Games in his country...

or USA Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, G. Bush, Clinton,
G.W. Bush wanting to send a message to the world that Americans are nice people. Who do they call? Sammy Lee!

You are the best thing to come along for diving since God put cliffs over deep water.

Frank Gorman

 

From Tom Hairabedian
From the 10 meter I wanted to learn the armstand cut-through 1/2 Gainer (circa 1949 LA Swim Stadium).  I asked Fred Cady about it and he said, "You can do a handstand as good as anybody, go up and do it."   So I went up and after pressing to a handstand I held, and held, and held.  When Fred said cut your legs through and come on down, I decided to go. But, not knowing where to kick, I kicked down and landed on my back.  After recovering, I was on my way up when Sammy leaned over the upper staircase and said, " what are doing?"  And I said, cutthrough 1/2 gainer.  Sammy said, "Kick your legs straight out".  I did as he said, and nailed the entry.
Fred Said, "That's more like it."   Thank you Sammy, for saving my life. 

Tom Hairabedian

 

From Peter Huber

It happened in Vienna more than 50 years ago
After Sammy won his second Olympic gold medal 1952 in Helsinki he made a tour through Europe and came to Vienna to meet the diving people there. We were very excited and thought about a surprise for him. Our top highboard divers Franz and Eve Worisch were professional ballett dancers at the opera and Franz had a good idea.
At that time an opera sensation was on stage."Porgy and Bess" starring the famous William Warfield and Leontine Price. Of course the performances were sold out for weeks. Franz had the brilliant idea to smuggle Sammy together with the ballettdancers through the backstage entrance into the theatre. With his tricks and his charme he brought us all in and Sammy set on an empty chair and we set aside him on the stairs and enjoyed this wonderful performance.
Every time I meet Sammy he still remembers this happening.

Peter Huber
FINA TDC member for 12
Hon.member of LEN

 

From Debby McCormick
I started diving in Sammy's backyard when I was 12 yrs old.  We used to have x-rated diving work outs!  Between his dirty jokes he would chastise me for my split tucks and say that it was not a "gynecology clinic"!!!
 
It was Father's Day and I was probably 14 years old and I used to go up to 10-meter and look down.  Sammy drove up one day and said it was the day I had to jump off.  I was terrified and he was so mad because I wouldn't go that he climbed up to the 10-meter platform and told me that if I did not jump he would never speak to me again....I was in tears!  He actually gave me a gentle push! I came up in tears and they thought I had gotten hurt...I was just crying because I thought he would never speak to me again...I learned my whole 10-meter list that week after realizing it was not that bad!!!
 
Sammy gave the most beautiful eulogy at Glenn's funeral...I will always remember that and I will always value his friendship.  He has to be one of the most wonderful and most influential people in my life.
 

DebbyMcCormick

 

From Phil Moriarty (Olympic Coach 1960)

This story happened sixty-four years ago In Lansing Michigan.

A small Oriental diver from Occidental College presented himself at the NCAA championships,
wearing a pair of diving trunks that needed to be burned.

Noting this problem I offered to explore the sporting goods stores

And find a suitable suit.

We walked through the town for one hour but to no avail.

The Young man finally confronted me with and I quote

“Are you trying to tire my legs so your diver will beat me

in the Championships?”

The answer “NO I just want to help you look your best!”

The diver Sammy Lee,  the helper Phil Moriarty, Yale’s coach

of Jim Cook a strong contender to win. Jim didn’t, but Sammy did.

From that day until now when Sammy and I meet it’s a friendship strengthened

 by “Want to look for a better suit” Sammy?

Yes we were the USA Olympic Diving Coaches for the '60 Games in Rome.

My men, Sammy‘s women. We even switched the divers we coached.

Sammy's Tower experience My Springboard, gave the men Gold and Silver in both events.

 Dr. Lee has given each and every day of his life something magic to our sport.

Just the mere mention of his name stimulates divers, because he is diving personified.

 

Thank you Sammy

 

Sincerely Phil. 

 

From Kitty O'Neil

Sammy

Your 31/2 somersaults on 10 meter Platform.

Too short

Too short again

Too many splash

Again!!!!!!!!! Just start losing some of your head!!!!!

Gotcha you Sammy

Love Kitty O'Neil

 

From Dal Stauffer
In 1942 Ohio State University Coach Mike Peppe held the National AAU tower meet in Columbus, Ohio.  An up and coming young contender named  Sammy Lee took one look at me, a junior in med school, and complained  about that old man of 27 still diving. Six years later, the now  28 year old "kid" grabs two medals in the Olympic Games.  And as if that wasn't enough he returns at 32 to win another Olympic platform Gold Medal -- as a REAL OLD MAN.  

 Cheers from your "ANCIENT" diving buddy. 

Dal Stauffer

 

From Søren Svejstrup (Olympian 1964 - Denmark)

When I started diving in l954. All the divers was talking about an olympic diver who had visited and been great fun after the games in 1952. His name was Sammy Lee, and all the danish divers who met him, still think he was the GREATEST...

  • As a European - and brand new in California, I went to my first meet at the Los Angeles Olympic pool in l961. I lived in Santa Clara, and George Haines invited me down with his swimming team. I was in big trouble, as I did not have any twisters in my tower diving, so I did a "special".... Handstand fall over ... landing feet first. I was quite embarrased, but at the training, I got to know Sammy Lee, because he was crazy with the dive, and told everyone to look out ! And I stopped feeling foolish, as he gave me a 10 at the meet... I will never forget him.

 

  • I do not have many regrets in my life! But I have ONE where Sammy is concerned. I lived 3½ hours from Barcelona, and I did not know that Sammy and Roz, were coming to town. I should have been there as they arrived...I am sure that a BIG dane would have made the thief think twice before hitting Roz in the head...

 

  • In 64 the Danish diving team, came to the games  in Tokyo without a coach, we were supposed to help each other out.Who was at the deck the first day, we came to the pool, and everyone could see we were in trouble ??  
                             SAMMY LEE
He voluntary, and spontaneous offered his assistance, and came to be a great help for both of us.
I for my part was 3 after the first 3 dives, and it was not Sammy`s fault that I did not make the final, but placed in the best half, so I could go back to Denmark, where everyone was surprised that I did so well
THANK YOU SAMMY, Your friend ever,   Søren Svejstrup    


Søren Svejstrup Denmark


From Mark Virts
With every email I receive from Frank Gorman concerning you and Roz, I think of Shanghai, China trip 1980. May I again express my gratitude for having your professional expertise on board? I’m sure I also owe Roz some love for letting you go with us. Until I can afford to staff a medical team of your caliber, I will remain stateside. Thanks again Sammy. Hope to see you soon…and at least we took Wirt Norris down!

All the Best,

Mark Virts

From Bob Webster (Olympian 1960)

As if training for the 1960 Olympic Tryouts wasn't nerve-wracking enough, whenever I missed a dive in practice that summer Sammy (the lil general) would start singing "arrivederci Roma" at the top of his lungs.

Bob Webster