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Pat won a total of four Olympic gold medals in the 3-meter and high platform dive in both the 1952 and 1956 Games, becoming the first male or female “double-double” diving gold medalist.
In honor of her achievements, the Lakewood City Council dedicated the new pool at Bolivar Park in her name in 1958, and Pat gave a diving exhibition at the pool’s grand opening, documented in this short historical film:
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Pat McCormick Excerpt from Lakewood Historical Film from CityTVLakewoodCA on Vimeo.
Pat was living in Seal Beach at the time of her passing. She was born in Seal Beach and raised in Long Beach, but moved to Lakewood with her husband Glenn in the 1950s. They left Lakewood after the 1950s and lived in Rossmoor and Lakewood Village (Long Beach), with Pat ultimately settling in Seal Beach.
Pat became active later in life as an advocate for children and the importance of education. She ran a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children in challenged areas of the country find success through sports and education.
A 9-minute historic video documents Pat’s diving career:
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This 1991 oral history (pdf) from Pat also documents her early life and life outside of diving.
Lakewood City Council Members spoke about Pat McCormick at their meeting Tuesday evening, and adjourned in her memory at the end of their meeting.
