Juno Stover Irwin (USA)

Honor Diver (1980)

FOR THE RECORD:  OLYMPIC GAMES: 1948 (team member); 1952 bronze (platform); 1956 silver (platform); 1960 (team member); PAN AMERICAN GAMES: 1955, 1959 silver (platform); NATIONAL AAU Diving Titles: 2 (platform).

Juno Stover Irwin and Duke Kahanamoku had one thing in common.  They were the only competitors to make U.S. Olympic swimming teams in four separate Olympics; the Duke as a freestyle sprinter and water polo player and Juno as America’s most persistent amateur diver.  Juno has one other record that may never be broken.  Between each of her Olympic diving stints she mothered a son or daughter and topped this off with a fifth (named for Hall of Famer Vickie Draves) after her diving career was over.  In 1952 Juno won the bronze medal at the Helsinki Olympics while 3 1/2 months pregnant.  Mrs. Irwin was National AAU 10 Meter Diving Champion in 1955 and 1960 and for 13 years (1947-1960) was ranked in the U.S. top four divers with Hall of Fame diving greats Vickie Draves, Pat McCormick and Paula Jean Myers.  Since retiring she has coached at the junior college and college level, most recently at the University of California (Berkeley).  She was discovered by Hall of Famer Dr. Sammy Lee and was coached by Bud Lyndon.