Thelma Payne

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameThelma R.•Payne (-Sanborn)
Used nameThelma•Payne
Born18 July 1896 in Salem, Oregon (USA)
Died7 September 1988 in Laguna Niguel, California (USA)
Measurements166 cm
AffiliationsMultnomah AC, Portland (USA)
NOC United States
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 0
Bronze 1
Total 1

Biography

Thelma Payne grew up in Portland, Oregon and competed for the Multnomah Athletic Club there. She was AAU indoor champion on the springboard in 1918-20. At the time of the 1920 Olympics she worked at City Hall as a receptionist. After the Olympics she started coaching swimming at the Los Angeles Athletic Club and Breakers Beach Club in Santa Monica, coaching two Olympians, Bowen Stassforth and Sharon Geary. Payne also taught swimming to John Wayne’s, Loretta Young’s, and Bing Crosby’s children. She also became a swimsuit model for Jantzen suits. Payne married Guy Sanborn and in 1947 the two raced in the Trans-Pacific Yacht Race together.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1920 Summer Olympics Diving (Aquatics) USA Thelma Payne
Springboard, Women (Olympic) 3 Bronze