Springboard, Women

Pat McCormick was the defending champion in both women’s diving events and she came through to again win gold on both the springboard and platform, completing a diving double-double. She won this event easily, leading the qualifying, and with a huge margin in the final round. Silver medalist Jeanne Stunyo had just missed making the 1952 US Olympic team when she placed fourth at the trials. She had also won a silver medal in springboard at the 1955 Pan American Games, finishing behind McCormick there as well. Bronze medalist Irene McDonald won the first Olympic diving medal ever for Canada, after having won bronze in the event at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. It would be another 28 years before Sylvie Bernier won Canada’s second medal in diving, a gold in this event.