Richard Degener

Who was Richard Degener?

Richard Kempster Degener was an American diver who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics and in the 1936 Summer Olympics.

In 1932 he won the bronze medal in the 3 metre springboard event. Described as the "Fred Astaire of diving", Degener competed at the 1932 Summer Olympics with University of Michigan classmates, Eddie Tolan and James Cristy.

Four years later he won the gold medal in the 3 metre springboard competition.

In April, 1936, Degener, along with many other sports champions and stand outs, was honored at a banquet in Detroit, MI. This Banquet was the first celebration of Champions Day.

In July, 1936, A plaque was presented to Detroit from the White House honoring Detroit as the City of Champions. The plaque has five "medallions" featuring athletes. Originally the plans called for these five athletes to be a baseball player, football player, hockey player, power boat racer, and a boxer. But Joe Louis was surprisingly knocked out in a boxing match just weeks before the plaque was to be presented. Planners changed the boxer to a diver, to represent Degener, at the last minute.