The 3-meter springboard gold medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin went to 13-year-old Marjorie Gestring, who completed the event at the age of 13 years and 268 days. This victory established her as the youngest person ever to win an Olympic gold medal, a milestone that stood for decades in international sports history.
Olympic Breakthrough in Berlin
Before her arrival in Germany, Gestring had secured a major title at the Amateur Athletic Union meeting held in Chicago in 1936. During the qualifying rounds for the United States Olympic team, she finished behind Katherine Rawls. In the final Olympic competition, Gestring faced a field of elite divers in front of 15,000 spectators. Her final dive achieved a score of 89.27, narrowly surpassing Rawls, who earned 88.35. The event concluded with an all-American podium, as Dorothy Poynton-Hill claimed the bronze medal.
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Between 1937 and 1940, Gestring maintained a consistent record at various levels of competition. She secured regional victories at the Far Western and Arizona State swimming championships in 1937. By 1938 and 1939, she held the United States national title for the 3-meter springboard. Her success continued as she became the US National Women's High Diving Champion in 1939, retaining that title in 1940. When the 1940 Summer Olympics were cancelled due to World War II, the United States Olympic Committee issued a gold medal to Gestring in place of the Games.
Post-War Attempts and Later Life
Gestring remained involved in competitive diving after the conclusion of the war. In 1943, she married Edward Harrison Carter, who was a student at UCLA at the time. By 1948, she sought to join the US team for the Summer Olympics once again. She participated in the team trials but failed to qualify, ultimately finishing in fourth place. She later died on April 20, 1992, at her home in Burlingame, California.
Honors and Recognition
Her impact on competitive swimming earned her induction into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1976. She is also a member of the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame, having attended the university after graduating from Los Angeles High School. Although she was considered for the title of California's Best Women Athlete by Sports Illustrated, the publication selected Billie Jean King. Her status as the youngest gold medalist was eventually surpassed by Kim Yun-mi during the 1994 Winter Olympics.
Fast facts
- Born: 1922, Los Angeles
- Died: 20 April 1992, Burlingame
- Education: Los Angeles High School and Stanford University
- 1936 Olympic Gold: 3-meter springboard
- 1939 US National Titles: 3-meter springboard and High Diving
- Marriage: Edward Harrison Carter, 1943
Questions readers ask
Was Marjorie Gestring the youngest Olympic gold medalist in history?
She was the youngest at the time of her 1936 victory, but her record was later surpassed by Kim Yun-mi in 1994.
How did Gestring receive a gold medal for the 1940 Olympics?
The United States Olympic Committee issued the medal to her because the 1940 Games were cancelled due to World War II.
Achievements
- Qualified for the U.S. Olympic team as a young teenager
- Won 3-meter springboard gold at the 1936 Olympics at age 13
- Youngest individual Olympic gold medalist in history
- Record still stands today