Hobie Billingsley
Encyclopedia
Hobie Billingsley is an American
diving
champion
and honoree of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
. Considered one of the highlights of his career was during the 1996 Summer Olympics
in Atlanta, when Billingsley was honored by his nation with the opportunity to conduct the Judge's Oath
by proclaiming, "In the name of all the judges and officials, I promise that we shall officiate in these Olympic Games with complete impartiality, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them in the true spirit of sportsmanship." Hobie Billingsley was the Swimming-Diving Coach at Allen Park High School in Wayne County, Michigan from 1955 to 1957 where he molded the beginnings of a swimming program that led to Allen Park eventually capturing the Michigan High School Boys State Championship. Where he went, skills improved and motivations increased; an instructor in swimming and diving skills and students.
Hobie Billingsley was Indiana University
’s diving coach from 1959 to 1989, during which time his divers won more than 100 national diving titles. His Olympic gold and bronze medalists include Lesley Bush
, Kenneth Sitzberger
, Mark Lenzi
, Cynthia Potter
, Win Young, and Jim Henry. Mr. Billingsley founded the World Diving Coaches Association in 1968, and was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
in 1983. He is considered by many to be one of the most influential figures in the history of diving. His legacy is carried on by his former divers who are now coaches at universities, high schools, and swim clubs throughout the United States. Mr. Billingsley is profiled in the award-winning and widely-televised documentary Hobie’s Heroes – 25th Anniversary Edition, which depicts the struggles and successes of young divers training under this legendary coach.
Hobie Billingsley is one of only six diving coaches mentioned in the American Red Cross
's Swimming and Water Safety [WSI Manual, 2004]; in the chapter on the history of the sport, Hobie is one of only two diving coaches with multiple mentions: he and Dick Kimball
(University of Michigan
) are credited with 'opening the door for women in varsity diving programs,' and he is cited as contributing to the sport of diving through analysis based on principles of physical laws of motion [both references, pg 20].
Following retirement from university coaching, Hobie continues to be active in the sport, training divers and coaches around the world, and is respected as a speaker on diving history, technique and ethics, and on sports in general. He has recently published the second edition of his Diving Illustrated, a seminal work offering detailed technical support for coaching diving.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diving
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...
champion
Champion
A champion is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition.There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, and even further divisions at one or more of these levels, as in soccer. Their champions...
and honoree of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
International Swimming Hall of Fame
The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of swimming in the United States and around...
. Considered one of the highlights of his career was during the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta, when Billingsley was honored by his nation with the opportunity to conduct the Judge's Oath
Olympic Oath
The Olympic Oath is a solemn promise made by one athlete -- as a representative of each of the participating Olympic competitors; and by one judge -- as a representative of each officiating Olympic referee or other official, at the opening ceremonies of each Olympic Games...
by proclaiming, "In the name of all the judges and officials, I promise that we shall officiate in these Olympic Games with complete impartiality, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them in the true spirit of sportsmanship." Hobie Billingsley was the Swimming-Diving Coach at Allen Park High School in Wayne County, Michigan from 1955 to 1957 where he molded the beginnings of a swimming program that led to Allen Park eventually capturing the Michigan High School Boys State Championship. Where he went, skills improved and motivations increased; an instructor in swimming and diving skills and students.
Hobie Billingsley was Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
’s diving coach from 1959 to 1989, during which time his divers won more than 100 national diving titles. His Olympic gold and bronze medalists include Lesley Bush
Lesley Bush
Lesley Leigh Bush is a diver from the United States and Olympic champion. She represented the USA at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where she received a gold medal in Platform Diving. Lesley performed with the 1968 Olympic diving team as well.Bush was inducted into the International Swimming...
, Kenneth Sitzberger
Kenneth Sitzberger
Kenneth Robert Sitzberger was a diver from the United States and Olympic champion. He represented his native country at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where he received a gold medal....
, Mark Lenzi
Mark Lenzi
Mark Edward Lenzi is a former American Olympic diver and diving coach. Lenzi is known for his Olympic gold medal in the 1992 Olympic Games, and his Olympic bronze medal in the 1996 Olympic Games on the 3m springboard....
, Cynthia Potter
Cynthia Potter
Cynthia Ann Potter is a former American Olympic diver and diving color commentator. She was a member of three Olympic diving teams, winning a bronze medal in the Women's 3m springboard competition in 1976....
, Win Young, and Jim Henry. Mr. Billingsley founded the World Diving Coaches Association in 1968, and was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
International Swimming Hall of Fame
The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of swimming in the United States and around...
in 1983. He is considered by many to be one of the most influential figures in the history of diving. His legacy is carried on by his former divers who are now coaches at universities, high schools, and swim clubs throughout the United States. Mr. Billingsley is profiled in the award-winning and widely-televised documentary Hobie’s Heroes – 25th Anniversary Edition, which depicts the struggles and successes of young divers training under this legendary coach.
Hobie Billingsley is one of only six diving coaches mentioned in the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
's Swimming and Water Safety [WSI Manual, 2004]; in the chapter on the history of the sport, Hobie is one of only two diving coaches with multiple mentions: he and Dick Kimball
Dick Kimball
Dick Kimball is an American former diving champion and diving coach at the University of Michigan. He was the NCAA springboard champion in 1957 and the Professional World Diving champion in 1963. He coached the University of Michigan diving team from 1958-2002 and also coached the U.S. Olympic...
(University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The 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...
) are credited with 'opening the door for women in varsity diving programs,' and he is cited as contributing to the sport of diving through analysis based on principles of physical laws of motion [both references, pg 20].
Following retirement from university coaching, Hobie continues to be active in the sport, training divers and coaches around the world, and is respected as a speaker on diving history, technique and ethics, and on sports in general. He has recently published the second edition of his Diving Illustrated, a seminal work offering detailed technical support for coaching diving.