Clarence Pinkston
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wichita, Kansas, United States
Detroit, Michigan, United States
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | February 1, 1900 Wichita, Kansas, United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | November 18, 1961 (aged 61) Detroit, Michigan, United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Diving | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Clarence Elmer "Bud" Pinkston (February 1, 1900 – November 18, 1961) was an American diver.[1] Born in Wichita, Kansas, he attended San Diego High where he won a Gymnastics title at age 15. He is the first San Diegan to win an Olympic Gold Medal. Pinkston attended college at Oregon State University[2] and Stanford University.[3] Pinkston won a gold medal in 10 metre platform diving and a silver medal in 3 metre springboard diving at the 1920 Summer Olympics;[3] he won two bronze medals in the same two events at the 1924 Summer Olympics. Pinkston met Elizabeth "Betty" Becker at the 1924 Games; they later married, and Pinkston became her coach.[3]
Both were supporters of the swimming and diving program at the Detroit Athletic Club. Pinkston served as aquatics director for the D.A.C. from 1927 until 1956. He continued as a coach for the club until he died in 1961. Several national champions and Olympic medalists trained under Pinkston's tutelage; Richard Degener, Jeanne Stunyo and Barbara Sue Gilders - all were sponsored by the Detroit Athletic Club.[4][5]
