Michael Riley Galitzen, also known as Mickey Riley (September 6, 1909,

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

– June 6, 1959,

Hollywood, California Hollywood is a neighborhood in the central region of Los Angeles, California. Its name has come to be a shorthand reference for the U.S. film industry and the people associated with it. Many notable film studios, such as Columbia Pictures, ...

) was an American diver who won four total medals, one gold, at the

1928 Summer Olympics The 1928 Summer Olympics ( nl, Olympische Zomerspelen 1928), officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad ( nl, Spelen van de IXe Olympiade) and commonly known as Amsterdam 1928, was an international multi-sport event that was celebrated from ...

and

1932 Summer Olympics The 1932 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the X Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1932) were an international multi-sport event held from July 30 to August 14, 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. The Games were held duri ...

. Galitzen won acclaim both for his individual diving and as a tandem diver with his brother John. He won two medals in diving at

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...

in 1928 as Michael Galitzen. In 1931 his coach suggested that the brothers use Americanized stage names — "Mickey Riley" and "Johnny Riley". He won gold and silver medals in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

in 1932 under that name. After the Olympics, he worked as a film editor, and he and John appeared frequently in diving shows. He was found dead in his Hollywood apartment in 1959; the death was attributed to natural causes. Galitzen was inducted into the

International Swimming Hall of Fame The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum (ISHOF) is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests and serving as the central point for the stu ...

in 1977.

References

External links

International Swimming Hall of Fame profile Hickoksports.com profile New York Times obituary, June 11, 1959 (subscription required)
1909 births 1959 deaths Sportspeople from Los Angeles Divers at the 1928 Summer Olympics Divers at the 1932 Summer Olympics Olympic gold medalists for the United States in diving Olympic silver medalists for the United States in diving Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in diving American male divers Medalists at the 1932 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1928 Summer Olympics {{US-acrobatics-diving-bio-stub