George James ATHANS

British Columbia native George Athans Sr. was only 15-years-old when he competed for Canada as a platform diver at the 1936 Summer Olympics. Two years and several national championships later he won bronze medals in the springboard and platform diving events at the 1938 British Empire Games. When World War II interrupted his career he studied to become a doctor and resumed competing after the conflict, captaining the Canadian diving contingent at the 1948 Summer Olympics and taking home medals in the springboard (gold) and platform (silver) diving competitions at the 1950 British Empire Games. In 1953 he was inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame and he is also a member of the British Columbia Swim Hall of Fame. His wife Irene was a championship swimmer at both the senior and masters level and his son George Jr. is a two-time world water-skiing champion. Another son, Greg, was a successful freestyle skier and yet another son, Gary participated in the alpine downhill event at the 1984 Winter Olympics. His family dynasty was inducted into the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.