(ATR) The first Asian-American man to earn a gold medal at the Olympics - Dr. Sammy Lee - has died of pneumonia in Newport Beach, California.
Dr. Lee won his first gold medal during the 10-meter platform diving event at the 1948 Games in London. He also won gold at the 1952 Games in Helsinki and had obtained three national diving championship titles.
Numerous tributes to Lee have been published by global media outlets since his death.
His obituary, published by the New York Times reveals the start of his Olympic career.
"Fulfilling a vow to his father, he stood on the high diving platform at the Olympic Games in London and looked down at cheering crowds. It was like standing atop a three-story building. But he had long ago conquered his fear of heights, and of bigotry. He was a doctor and a compact athlete representing the United States." his obituary reads.
In an interview with NPR Reporter Karen Grigsby Bates, one of Lee's biographers Paula K. Yoo statessome of the struggles Lee endured to overcome discrimination. As a child Lee didn't let the rules at Pasadena’s Brookside Park pool, which at the time only allowed for people of color to use the facilities on 'International Day', stop him from practicing diving.
"He's very much a problem-solver," Yoo says . "So when he was told, 'You can't use the pool except for that day,' he decided, 'Okay, then I'm going to work with a coach who would help me'."
Honored to know & write about #AsianAmerican #Olympic Gold Medalist Dr. Sammy Lee who inspired us all. https://t.co/cM2QmbsbXt @LEEandLOW pic.twitter.com/4TEOxv7Xq5
— Paula Yoo (@PaulaYoo) December 3, 2016In a Facebook post announcing Lee’s death, his daughter-in-law, Gina Lee, described him as a "true giant, a fearless leader, a magnificent and loving family man and a hero amongst the Olympic and Medical world."
Sammy Lee received his medical degree at the University of Southern California and was USC’s oldest surviving Olympian. The USC Swim and Diving team took to social media to express their condolences for the family of Lee.
Our thoughts & prayers w/ the family of Dr. Sammy Lee, USC diving legend, who passed away last night at 96 #FightOn. https://t.co/XAt2wmOJUH pic.twitter.com/33jV28XzhP
— USC Swim&Dive (@USCswim) December 3, 2016Olympic gold medalist and fellow diver Laura Wilkinson also took to Facebook describing Lee as a 'Wonderful Man'.
Following Lee's diving career, he helped coach two-time diving gold medalist Bob Webster. He later coached Greg Louganis who won a silver medal at the 1976 Olympics at the age of 16.
Ryan Reft of KCET saysSammy Lee surfed historical crests and upon news of his death believed he received the proper attention he deserved on mass media outlets.
"Much has been made of his contributions to ending segregation in California and fighting communism abroad, his accomplishments as a gold medalist diver, and his success as a doctor. Indeed, even in his last days as he struggled with dementia, Lee remained a conduit for our national story over the century."
"Lee’s life, from start to finish, proves that hope for a better, more inclusive nation exists."
Written by Courtney Colquitt
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