18 Facts About Tom Gompf

Tom Gompf was born March 17,1939, in Dayton, Ohio, and attended Stivers High School.

Tom Gompf trained with the Dayton YMCA swim team where in 1957, his Senior year, he served as Captain, and was coached by Don Freeman.

Tom Gompf was the defending YMCA title holder in the 1 and 3-meter springboard, and in the prior two years had gone undefeated in both YMCA competition and dual meets.

The "Y" team had won two YMCA national titles by April, 1957 and were attempting their third consecutive win, with Tom Gompf having scored well in the 1956 meet.

Tom Gompf represented the Cincinnati Coca Cola Club at the National Junior Championship in 1957, where he placed first in the Platform and 3-meter competitions that August.

Tom Gompf enrolled and swam for Ohio State University around the Fall of 1957, where he placed second in the springboard at both the NCAAs and AAU championship meet in his senior year.

Tom Gompf was an NCAA champion on the trampoline at the NCAA Gymnastics Championship in his Senior year.

Tom Gompf helped lead Ohio State to a national runner-up finish in 1959.

Tom Gompf represented the United States at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where he received a bronze medal in the men's 10 metre platform.

Tom Gompf was a Navy pilot holding the rank of Lieutenant during the 1964 Olympics.

In one of is final achievements as an athlete, Tom Gompf was the World Professional High Diving Championship in 1970 and 1971.

Tom Gompf later became a commercial pilot for Delta, Pan Am, and National Airlines, serving as a career pilot for 30 years.

Tom Gompf was a judge at the Munich Olympics in 1972.

Tom Gompf acted as manager of the USA Olympic diving team in 1976 and 1984, and was a diving official at the 1979 Pan-Am Games and the 1988 Olympics.

Tom Gompf was president of US Aquatic Sports from 1999 through 2002.

Tom Gompf promoted the sport of synchronized diving and is considered a pioneer in adding synchronized diving to many competitions.

In 2002, Tom Gompf became a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Tom Gompf was a member of the Athletic Halls of Fame at both Ohio State and the University of Miami, where he coached.