Diving
b. Feb. 22, 1885
d. Aug. 25, 1938
Germany and Sweden dominated international diving in the early years of the century, winning every Olympic championship but one before 1920. Gaidzik was America's best diver during that period. He tied for a bronze medal in the 1908 springboard event, preventing a complete German sweep. He also finished fifth in the "plain high dive," an obsolete event.
In 1912, Gaidzik competed in all three Olympic dives, but his best finish was only an eighth place in the springboard. He was the AAA national platform champ three years in a row, from 1909 through 1911, and he won the indoor 3-meter springboard title in 1910 and 1912.
Gaidzik died in a boating accident on Lake Michigan.
International Swimming Hall of Fame
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