John Candler

John Candler was born in the North Yorkshire seaside resort of Scarborough after his pregnant mother was evacuated there at the start of World War II. Candler was, however, brought near Hull, and at the age of 12 took up diving and within two years was a Yorkshire champion.

Originally a draughtsman, Candler´s love of diving saw him look for better training facilities and he spent time at Blackpool´s Derby Baths before making the journey south to join the famous Highgate Club in London and winning the 1960 national 1-metre springboard title. He then realised that to develop further he had to go to the United State and went to the University of Michigan. The move paid dividends and Candler was selected for the 1960 and 1964 Olympics and he always maintained that if he had been chosen for the platform event, and not springboard, at Tokyo, he would have won a medal.

Candler turned professional soon after the Tokyo Olympics. He had made the USA his permanent home in 1962 where he became a diving teacher and coach at the University of South Carolina and then North Carolina State University, as well as opening the Candler Swim Club. Candler won the first of three professional diving titles at Miami two months after the Tokyo Games, and at Las Vegas in 1965 and 1966 he won the world high diving title. He retired shortly after the second of those titles after sustaining an injury during the championships.

Candler resigned his post at North Carolina State following revelations that he had molested a minor 37-years earlier. This came on top of a 1985 conviction for a similar offence that resulted in him receiving probation after pleading guilty. He was remanded in custody for two months following reports of the 1960s incident while the courts decided whether he should be deported. It was decided he could stay in the USA. During his 36 years at North Carolina State, Candler coached 16 All-Americas, 49 Atlantic Coast Conference champions, and one Olympian.