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In 1948 I missed making the Olympic team. Scarcely 18, I finished fourth in the Trials by half an eyelash—1/100th of a point. That defeat was the greatest thing that ever happened to me.
Even though I lost with such a small margin, I found myself in the showers, crying, wondering, “What have I done wrong?” At that point I knew that I could make the 1952 Olympic Team. Before, it was just a dream to go to the Olympics, but I came so close, I knew I could really do it. That’s when I set my sights on winning two gold medals in two consecutive Olympics. I wanted to do something nobody else had ever done. Of course, I didn’t tell anyone. Women just didn’t say those things then. But I started training the very next day. At the 1952 in Helsinki I competed in two events, won two. In 1956, at the Melbourne Games, I competed in two events, won another two. No other woman in the annals of diving has equaled this feat–double-double Olympic Games gold medals. I can still close my eyes and remember standing on the Victory Stand as they played the Star Spangled Banner. I could see the American Flag rising above the pool, its silhouette shimmering in the water and it seemed to be coming towards me. As I reached out for my fourth gold medal I realized I stepped up to dream to what I call living and winning. —Pat McCormick
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