David Greig "Skippy" Browning Jr. (June 5, 1931 – March 13, 1956) was a diver from the United States and Olympic champion. He represented the US at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, where he received a gold medal in springboard diving.[2][3] After his Olympic victory in Helsinki, Browning shinnied up a flag pole to steal an Olympic flag and was arrested.[4]
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | David Greig Browning Jr. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nickname | Skippy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nationality | American | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.[1] | June 5, 1931|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | March 13, 1956 Near Rantoul, Kansas, U.S.[1] | (aged 24)|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Education | Business administration, University of Texas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Occupation | United States Naval Aviator | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years active | 1948–1956 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | Diving | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Event | Springboard diving | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University team | University of Texas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Club | Texas Longhorns[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Olympic finals | 1952 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Updated on 25 July 2012. |
Browning married Corinne L. Couch on September 7, 1950. In January 1953 he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in business administration. In June 1955 he received his wings as a pilot in the United States Navy at Pensacola, Florida. On March 13, 1956, he was on a training flight in a North American FJ Fury jet carrier fighter when the plane crashed near Rantoul, Kansas, killing Browning.[3] At the time, he was scheduled to be reassigned to Los Angeles to begin training for the 1956 Summer Olympics.[5]
Browning was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1975.[5] His father was his coach and instructor.[citation needed]
Media related to David Browning at Wikimedia Commons