Velma Dunn ploessel
Platform diving

© US Olympic Committee© US Olympic Committee

SILVER MEDAL - 10 METER PLATFORM - BERLIN 1936

  • Born and raised in Monrovia; her mother taught at Wild Rose School
  • Graduate of Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte High School in 1935
  • Inspired to compete after attending the 1932 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles

​At age 17, Velma Dunn finished 2nd in the 10 meter platform diving event at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, a mere 3/10ths of a point behind her teammate Dorothy Poynton.

After Berlin, she enrolled at the University of Southern California, majoring in Physical Education.  Graduating in just three years, she trained full time for the 1940 Games, but they were cancelled due to the start of World War II.  

She began teaching physical education at Huntington Park High School, where she met her future husband Howard Ploessel, who taught swimming there.  During the war years, they lived in San Pedro, where she taught swimming, water ballet, synchronized swimming and life saving.  The Ploessels also organized and staged water shows at military bases in California and Arizona.

She continued her Olympic ties, volunteering at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, and participating in the torch relays leading up to the 1996 Atlanta, 2002 Salt Lake City and 2004 Athens Games.      
Picture
Velma Dunn on the cover of Sports Digest, 1935
Velma resumed teaching in 1953 at South Gate Junior High, where she remained until her retirement in 1980.

​Photos used by permission of Nancy Ploessel.  
Return to Athletes page