Springboard, Women

Georgia Coleman had won a silver and bronze medal in diving at the 1928 Olympics, but improved in 1932 to a gold and silver medal, winning the springboard, after placing third in 1928. She was the first woman to perform a 2½ somersault in competition. Coleman contracted polio in 1937 and would die at the early age of 28. Silver medalist Peggy Rawls would repeat her silver medal at the 1936 Olympics and also add a bronze medal in swimming in the 4 x 100 freestyle relay. The Americans swept the medals with Jane Fauntz winning bronze. Fauntz had competed at the 1928 Olympics but not in diving. She was also a swimmer who competed in the 200 breaststroke at Amsterdam.

Although they swept the medals, the Americans almost did not get to compete in the finals. All three appeared for warm-up dives and the officials ruled that their uniforms were showing too much back. They were instructed to find other suits to wear for the competition. Rawls and Fauntz had other suits they could use, but Coleman did not, and had to borrow one from breaststroker Peg Hoffman.