FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – The first Asian-American to win an Olympic gold medal for the United States, inspiring countless future athletes while also breaking barriers, has roots in the Central Valley.
Sammy Lee was the first Asian-American to win an Olympic gold medal for the United States, and he was born in Fresno in 1920, according to officials with the Shinzen Friendship Garden.
The 5-foot Korean descent became the first man to win consecutive Olympic titles in platform diving in 1948 and 1952, and he was the oldest diver at age 32 to win Olympic gold, according to an AP article . He earned a bronze 3-meter springboard at the 1948 games as well.
Lee was also inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1968 and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1990.
However, Lee faced many difficulties in achieving his goals; his local public pool back then only allowed racial minorities on Wednesdays, which were called “international days”, limiting his ability to train.