Bob Clotworthy

Bob Clotworthy

Personal information
Full name	Robert Lynn Clotworthy
Born	May 8, 1931 (1931-05-08) (age 85) Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Medal record Men's diving Representing the  United States Olympic Games Melbourne 1956 3 m springboard Helsinki 1952 3 m springboard Pan American Games Mexico City 1955 3 m springboard Mexico City 1955 10 m platform

Robert Lynn "Bob" Clotworthy (born May 8, 1931) is a former diver from the United States who represented his native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1952. He won the bronze medal at his Olympic debut in Helsinki, Finland in the men's springboard event, followed by the gold medal, four years later in Melbourne, Australia in the same event.

Early life

Clotworthy was born in Newark, New Jersey and grew up in nearby Westfield. He began training for his Olympic career in high school, spending hours each day practicing dives and perfecting them. Clotworthy dove for the Westfield High School team, Plainfield Swim Club and Westfield YMCA, where coaches Ed Gillen and Stan Dudeck coached him. When he competed for the Olympics, he participated and dove for the New York Athletic Club. He went on to be coached in Ohio State by Mike Peppe. Others who helped Clotworthy during his career were Hobie Billingsley, Phil Moriarty, Charlie Batterman, Glen and Pat McCormick.^[1] He competed in the 1955 Pan-American Games in Mexico City, where he met Cynthia Gill, a member of the U.S. Swimming team. They were married the following year. After retiring from competition, Clotworthy coached at Army, Dartmouth, Princeton, Arizona State, Texas, and New Mexico. From 1981 through 1984, he produced six NAIA champions at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.^[2] Clotworthy attended Ohio State University where he majored in Physical Education. He graduated in the 1954, then leading him to retire from diving in 1956 and coaching in August 2006.

Olympic career

Clotworthy was a diver of the United States, who represented his native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1952. He won the bronze medal at his Olympic debut in Helsinki Finland in the men’s springboard event, followed by the gold medal, four years later in Melbourne, Australia in the same event.

National titles and accomplishments

• 1951 AAU Outdoor Nationals 3 meter champion. • 1953 AAU Indoor Nationals 1 meter champion. • 1953 AAU Outdoor Nationals 3 meter champion. • 1956 AAU Indoor Nationals 1 meter champion. • 1956 AAU Outdoor Nationals 3 meter champion.

International diving accomplishments

• 1955 Pam Am Games, in Mexico City, Mexico: 3rd place three-meter springboard. • 1955 Pan Am Games, in Mexico City, Mexico: 2nd place Platform event.

Olympic games

• 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games, 3rd place three-meter event. • 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, 1st place three-meter event.

Coaching accomplishments

• 1955-56 Coached diving at West Point. • 1958 Coached diving at Dartmouth College. • 1958 Coached diving at Dartmouth College. • 1958-70 Coached swimming and diving at Princeton University. • 1970-71 Coached diving at the Arizona State University. • 1972-76 Coached diving at the University of Texas. • 1980-1984 Coached diving at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. • 1984-1996 Coached diving at Albuquerque Academy, New Mexico. • 1997-2006 Coached Age Group Swimming – Taos Swim Club, Taos, New Mexico.

Family and retired life

Clotworthy and his wife of 48 years, Cynthia Gill (died in 2012), (American bronze medal swimmer in the 100-meter backstroke) met on the ten-meter platform while watching swimming races. They have four children: Susan, Bruce, Jodi, and Erin. They have seven grandchildren. Bob now lives in Oregon where he continues to enjoy diving and swimming. His wife, Cynthia, died in the fall of 2012.

References

• databaseOlympics