caption fullname event death_date death_place birth_place universityteam image_size nationality olympics sport birth_date yearsactive image article_title name occupation
bruce harlan bruce ira harlan springboard diving platform diving 22 june 1959 norwalk , connecticut marple newtown , pennsylvania ohio state university 125 united states 1948 diving 02 january 1926 1945 -- 1959 bruce harlan.jpg bruce harlan
 bruce harlan diving coach
bruce harlan

bruce ira harlan -lrb- january 2 , 1926 -- june 22 , 1959 -rrb- was a diver from the united states and olympic champion .
he represented his native country at the 1948 summer olympics in london , where he received one gold medal and one silver medal .
harlan was a high school wrestler and pole vaulter in lansdowne , pennsylvania , and served in the united states navy during world war ii .
harlan coached diving at the university of michigan from 1954 to 1959 .
on june 21 , 1959 he took part in a diving exhibition in fairfield , connecticut .
while helping to dismantle the scaffolding of the diving tower , harlan fell to his death .
harlan was inducted into the international swimming hall of fame in 1973 .
in 1961 the michigan interscholastic swim coaches association -lrb- misca -rrb- honored bruce harlan when they created an award in his honor .
the award is given annually to a diving coach who demonstrates continued leadership , contributions , and service to michigan high school diving .
