Robert Lynn Clotworthy (born May 8, 1931 in Newark, New Jersey

Newark, New Jersey

Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...

) was a diver

Diving

Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...

 from the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, who represented his native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1952

Diving at the 1952 Summer Olympics

At the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, four diving events were contested.-Medal summary:The events are labelled as 3 metre springboard and 10 metre platform by the International Olympic Committee, and appeared on the 1952 Official Report as springboard diving and high diving,...

. 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

Robert “Bob” Lynn Clotworthy was born on May 8, 1931 in Newark, New Jersey. He began training for his Olympic career in high school, spending hours each day practicing dives and perfecting them. Clotworthy dove for the New Jersey’s 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. 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. 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

Robert “Bob” Lynn 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

Bob Clotworthy and his wife of 48 years, Cynthia Gill, (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 and Cynthia now live in Oregon where they continue to enjoy diving and swimming together.