Barbara Gilders-Dudeck
Encyclopedia
19-year old Detroit native and Mackenzie High School
graduate, Barbara Sue Gilders represented the United States
in the sport of springboard diving at the 1956 Summer Olympics
in Melbourne
, Australia
.
Coached by four-time Olympic medalist, Clarence Pinkston
, Gilders entered the Games as the U.S. Olympic Trials silver medalist. During her lone Olympic competition, Barbara narrowly missed a trip to the medals podium.
Emerging from the preliminary rounds in third place, Gilders ended up fourth overall with a score of 120.76. The bronze medal went to Irene MacDonald
at 121.40 - Canada
's first Olympic diving medalist.
Jeanne Stunyo
of Gary, Indiana
earned the silver medal, and the 1956 Olympic
gold medal in springboard diving was awarded to Patricia McCormick
of Seal Beach, California
. Gilders and Stunyo were sponsored at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials by the Detroit Athletic Club
.
indoor titles on the one-meter (1958) and three-meter board (1959). In June 1959, Barbara took first place at the Pan American Games
Trials; later that summer, in what would be her final international competition, Gilders-Dudeck won a bronze medal at the Pan American Games
.
(a 1979 graduate) represented the United States in the sport of track and field at the 1988 Seoul Games. Like Gilders, Walton was the U.S. Olympic Trials silver medalist and a finalist during her lone appearance at the Olympic Games; another coincidence: Walton was also a Pan American Games medalist who narrowly missed an Olympic medal.
Mackenzie High School (Michigan)
Mackenzie High School was a public secondary education facility in Detroit, Michigan.-The early years: 1928–1940s :Located on Detroit's west side, David Mackenzie High School was named to honor the innovative educator who had served as principal of Central High School, and as first dean of the...
graduate, Barbara Sue Gilders represented the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the sport of springboard diving at the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Coached by four-time Olympic medalist, Clarence Pinkston
Clarence Pinkston
Clarence Elmer "Bud" Pinkston was an American diver. 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 and Stanford University...
, Gilders entered the Games as the U.S. Olympic Trials silver medalist. During her lone Olympic competition, Barbara narrowly missed a trip to the medals podium.
Glimpse at sports history
Barb Gilders: 1956 Olympic Finalist
Emerging from the preliminary rounds in third place, Gilders ended up fourth overall with a score of 120.76. The bronze medal went to Irene MacDonald
Irene MacDonald
Irene Margaret MacDonald, OBC was a Canadian athlete, sports executive and broadcaster from Hamilton, Ontario...
at 121.40 - Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's first Olympic diving medalist.
Jeanne Stunyo
Jeanne Stunyo
Jeanne Georgette Stunyo is a former world-class diver who earned a silver medal on the three-meter springboard at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia....
of Gary, Indiana
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
earned the silver medal, and the 1956 Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
gold medal in springboard diving was awarded to Patricia McCormick
Pat McCormick (diver)
Patricia Joan McCormick is a retired female diver from the United States, who won a total number of four gold medals by winning both diving events at two consecutive Summer Olympics ....
of Seal Beach, California
Seal Beach, California
-Neighborhoods:Seal Beach encompasses the Leisure World retirement gated community with roughly 9,000 residents. This was the first major planned retirement community of its type in the U.S...
. Gilders and Stunyo were sponsored at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials by the Detroit Athletic Club
Detroit Athletic Club
The Detroit Athletic Club , is a private social club and athletic club located in the heart of Detroit's theater, sports, and entertainment district. The clubhouse was designed by Albert Kahn and inspired by Rome's Palazzo Farnese. It maintains reciprocal agreements for their members at other...
.
Beyond 1956
Barbara Gilders-Dudeck demonstrated her level of preparation for the 1960 Olympics by winning National AAUAmateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
indoor titles on the one-meter (1958) and three-meter board (1959). In June 1959, Barbara took first place at the Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
Trials; later that summer, in what would be her final international competition, Gilders-Dudeck won a bronze medal at the Pan American Games
1959 Pan American Games
The 3rd Pan American Games opened on August 27, 1959 in sunny 90°F heat before 40,000 people in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The first Pan American Games held in North America, they were originally scheduled for Cleveland, Ohio, but the U.S. Congress’s decision to cut $5,000,000 in federal...
.
Noteworthy
- Barbara Gilders (Dudeck) is the younger sister of Fletcher GildersFletcher GildersFletcher Gilders was a Detroit native who won fame as a talented multi-sport athlete for the Colts of Northwestern High School and the Buckeyes of Ohio State University...
, a two-time NCAA Diving Champion at Ohio State. Brother "Fletch" was also a Hall of Fame Diving Coach for Ohio UniversityOhio UniversityOhio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
and three-time NCAA Division III Coach of the Year at Kenyon CollegeKenyon CollegeKenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, founded in 1824 by Bishop Philander Chase of The Episcopal Church, in parallel with the Bexley Hall seminary. It is the oldest private college in Ohio...
. - John and Barbara Gilders-Dudeck are the parents of Diane DudeckDiane DudeckDiane Dudeck is a former National Open Champion and three-time National Collegiate Athletic Association All-American springboard diver....
, the one-meter springboard gold medalist at the 1981 U.S. Indoor Diving Championships. While competing for the University of MichiganUniversity of MichiganThe University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1984, Diane Dudeck was named Big Ten ConferenceBig Ten ConferenceThe Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
Diver of the Year for her gold medal performance on the one-meter board; Diane was also a 1984 NCAA All-American. Two years later, on the one-meter board, Miss Dudeck earned a silver medal and All-American honors for the University of ArkansasUniversity of ArkansasThe University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
at the 1986 NCAA Championships. - Barbara's husband, John Dudeck, was an accomplished athlete. A product of Detroit's Western High SchoolWestern International High SchoolWestern International High School is a secondary educational facility, located across from Clark Park, within southwest Detroit's Mexicantown. Western is operated by the Detroit Public Schools system....
, John swam at the collegiate level for Michigan State UniversityMichigan State UniversityMichigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
. A former Big Ten ConferenceBig Ten ConferenceThe Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
record holder and two-time Big Ten titlist in the 100-yard breaststroke (1953, 54); Dudeck was a nine-time All-American for the Spartans (1953–55).
Of further note
The 79-year legacy of Detroit-Mackenzie High School includes two alumni who competed in the Olympic Games. Delisa WaltonDelisa Walton-Floyd
Delisa Walton-Floyd is a former World-Class middle distance runner who specialized in the 800 metres; she was a two-time National Collegiate champion, and two-time U.S. Open champion in her event. Delisa Walton-Floyd represented the United States at the 1987 Pan American Games; winning a silver...
(a 1979 graduate) represented the United States in the sport of track and field at the 1988 Seoul Games. Like Gilders, Walton was the U.S. Olympic Trials silver medalist and a finalist during her lone appearance at the Olympic Games; another coincidence: Walton was also a Pan American Games medalist who narrowly missed an Olympic medal.