Jane Fauntz
Encyclopedia
Jane Fauntz Manske was a national champion swimmer and diver
, and a member of the United States Olympic teams
in 1928 (swimming
) and 1932 (springboard diving). She was the bronze medalist for springboard diving at the 1932 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles.
Fauntz was born in New Orleans
. Unable to compete in high school swimming competitions in Chicago
because of a ban on female interscholastic athletics in Illinois, Fauntz competed as a teenager for the Illinois Women's Athletic Club swimming and diving teams. In March 1928 she established world record
s for the 100-yard breaststroke (1:20.3) and 100-meter breaststroke (1:29.3) at a dual meet against a Canadian team.
At the AAU
swimming indoor national championships in Chicago in 1929, Fauntz won two national titles within the space of one half hour, winning the one-meter springboard and 100 meter breaststroke titles.
An Olympian at the age of 17 in the 1928 Summer Olympics
in Amsterdam, Fauntz finished in 5th place in the 200-meter breaststroke
. Her specialty, however, was diving. Describing Fauntz during the Olympic diving competition, author Paul Gallico
wrote in the New York Daily News
:
That "marvelous body" became a source of mild controversy at the Los Angeles games, when a Hungarian diving judge, Dr. Leo Donath, ordered the diving competition halted until the American divers changed their suits; he had objected to the near-backless cut of the team-supplied swimsuit.
Fauntz captured the three-meter springboard bronze medal at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, finishing just 5 points behind gold medalist Georgia Coleman
and a single point behind silver medalist Katherine Rawls
, helping the United States team to a sweep of the event. Fauntz led the competition after the compulsory dives, but slipped to third after mistiming the entry on her penultimate optional dive. (Fauntz later said this dive was "the worst one I'd ever done. There went my world; I didn't even want to come up from the pool.")
Fauntz parlayed her Olympic success to a career in marketing, modeling, and professional aquatic exhibitions. She became one of the first female athletes to appear on the Wheaties
cereal box; she was also one of many celebrities of the time recruited to endorse cigarettes (in her case, Camels
) and beer (Falstaff). Jane also appeared as cover girl
for Life and Ladies Home Journal. She worked as a model for Saks Fifth Avenue
. As a professional diver, Fauntz appeared in exhibitions at the Chicago World's Fair
in 1933, where she met future husband Edgar "Eggs" Manske
, an All-American football star at Northwestern University
; they married in 1936.
An artist by training (B.A., art education, University of Illinois) and vocation, Fauntz was a painter and sculptor, and taught high school art classes for 20 years in California. Her bronze bust of former University of California
football coach Lynn "Pappy" Waldorf
is on display at the university's Sports Hall of Fame.
Fauntz died in Los Angeles of leukemia
on May 30, 1989.
Jane Fauntz Manske was inducted posthumously into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
in 1991.
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...
, and a member of the United States Olympic teams
United States at the Olympics
The United States of America has sent athletes to every celebration of the modern Olympic Games, except the 1980 Summer Olympics, which it boycotted.The United States Olympic Committee is the National Olympic Committee for the United States....
in 1928 (swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
) and 1932 (springboard diving). She was the bronze medalist for springboard diving at the 1932 Summer Olympics
Diving at the 1932 Summer Olympics
At the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, four diving events were organized, two for men, and two for women. The United States swept the medals in all four events...
in Los Angeles.
Fauntz was born in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. Unable to compete in high school swimming competitions in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
because of a ban on female interscholastic athletics in Illinois, Fauntz competed as a teenager for the Illinois Women's Athletic Club swimming and diving teams. In March 1928 she established world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
s for the 100-yard breaststroke (1:20.3) and 100-meter breaststroke (1:29.3) at a dual meet against a Canadian team.
At the AAU
Amateur 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...
swimming indoor national championships in Chicago in 1929, Fauntz won two national titles within the space of one half hour, winning the one-meter springboard and 100 meter breaststroke titles.
An Olympian at the age of 17 in the 1928 Summer Olympics
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
in Amsterdam, Fauntz finished in 5th place in the 200-meter breaststroke
Breaststroke
The breaststroke is a swimming style in which the swimmer is on his or her chest and the torso does not rotate. It is the most popular recreational style due to its stability and the ability to keep the head out of the water a large portion of the time. In most swimming classes, beginners learn...
. Her specialty, however, was diving. Describing Fauntz during the Olympic diving competition, author Paul Gallico
Paul Gallico
Paul William Gallico was a successful American novelist, short story and sports writer. Many of his works were adapted for motion pictures...
wrote in the New York Daily News
New York Daily News
The Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
:
"..Her marvelous body flowed through the dives with the smoothness of running quicksilver."
That "marvelous body" became a source of mild controversy at the Los Angeles games, when a Hungarian diving judge, Dr. Leo Donath, ordered the diving competition halted until the American divers changed their suits; he had objected to the near-backless cut of the team-supplied swimsuit.
Fauntz captured the three-meter springboard bronze medal at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, finishing just 5 points behind gold medalist Georgia Coleman
Georgia Coleman
Georgia Coleman was an American diver who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics and in the 1932 Summer Olympics....
and a single point behind silver medalist Katherine Rawls
Katherine Rawls
Katherine Louise Rawls was a multiple United States national champion in swimming and diving in the 1930s.-Swimming career:...
, helping the United States team to a sweep of the event. Fauntz led the competition after the compulsory dives, but slipped to third after mistiming the entry on her penultimate optional dive. (Fauntz later said this dive was "the worst one I'd ever done. There went my world; I didn't even want to come up from the pool.")
Fauntz parlayed her Olympic success to a career in marketing, modeling, and professional aquatic exhibitions. She became one of the first female athletes to appear on the Wheaties
Wheaties
Wheaties is a brand of General Mills breakfast cereal. It is well known for featuring prominent athletes on the exterior of the package, and has become a major cultural icon...
cereal box; she was also one of many celebrities of the time recruited to endorse cigarettes (in her case, Camels
Camel (cigarette)
Camel is a brand of cigarettes that was introduced by American company R.J. Reynolds Tobacco in the summer of 1913. Most current Camel cigarettes contain a blend of Turkish tobacco and Virginia tobacco. Early in 2008 the blend was changed as was the package design.-History:In 1913, R.J...
) and beer (Falstaff). Jane also appeared as cover girl
Cover girl
A cover girl is a woman whose photograph features on the front cover of a magazine. She may be a model, celebrity or entertainer. The term would generally not be used to describe a casual, once-off appearance by a person on the cover of a magazine....
for Life and Ladies Home Journal. She worked as a model for Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue is a luxury American specialty store owned and operated by Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises , a subsidiary of Saks Incorporated. It competes in the high-end specialty store market in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, i.e. 'the 3 B's' Bergdorf, Barneys, Bloomingdale's and Lord & Taylor...
. As a professional diver, Fauntz appeared in exhibitions at the Chicago World's Fair
Century of Progress
A Century of Progress International Exposition was the name of a World's Fair held in Chicago from 1933 to 1934 to celebrate the city's centennial. The theme of the fair was technological innovation...
in 1933, where she met future husband Edgar "Eggs" Manske
Edgar Manske
Edgar John "Eggs" Manske was a former professional American football player who played six seasons in the National Football League. Manske was the last NFL player to play without a football helmet...
, an All-American football star at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
; they married in 1936.
An artist by training (B.A., art education, University of Illinois) and vocation, Fauntz was a painter and sculptor, and taught high school art classes for 20 years in California. Her bronze bust of former University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
football coach Lynn "Pappy" Waldorf
Pappy Waldorf
Lynn Osbert "Pappy" Waldorf was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, now Oklahoma State University–Stillwater, , Kansas State University , Northwestern University , and the University of California, Berkeley ,...
is on display at the university's Sports Hall of Fame.
Fauntz died in Los Angeles of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
on May 30, 1989.
Jane Fauntz Manske was inducted posthumously 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 1991.