{{Short description|American diver (1931–1956)}} {{about||the Irish rugby union player|David Browning (rugby union)}} {{use mdy dates|date=March 2022}} {{Infobox sportsperson | headercolor = | name = David Browning | image = David Browning 1952.jpg | image_size = | caption = Browning at the 1952 Olympics | birth_name = | full_name = David Greig Browning Jr. | nickname = Skippy | residence = | birth_date = {{birth date|1931|06|05}} | birth_place = Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.<ref name=sr/> | death_date = {{death date and age|1956|03|13|1931|06|05}} | death_place = Near Rantoul, Kansas, U.S.<ref name=sr/> | education = Business administration, University of Texas | occupation = United States Naval Aviator | yearsactive = 1948–1956 | height = <!-- {{convert|}} (yyyy) --> | weight = <!-- {{convert|}} (yyyy) --> | website = <!-- {{URL|www.example.com}} --> | country = | sport = Diving | event = Springboard diving | collegeteam = | universityteam = University of Texas | club = Texas Longhorns<ref name=sr>{{cite Sports-Reference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418065834/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/br/skippy-browning-1.html |title=Skippy Browning |archive-date=2020-04-18 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/br/skippy-browning-1.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> | team = | turnedpro = | partner = | former_partner = | coach = | retired = | coaching = | worlds = | regionals = | nationals = | olympics = 1952 | paralympics = | highestranking = | pb = | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }} {{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}} {{MedalGold| 1952 Helsinki | Springboard}} {{MedalCountry | Texas }} {{MedalCompetition|NCAA}} {{MedalGold | 1951 Austin | 1 meter diving}} {{MedalGold | 1951 Austin | 3 meter diving}} {{MedalGold | 1952 Princeton | 1 meter diving}} {{MedalGold | 1952 Princeton | 3 meter diving}} | show-medals = yes | updated = 25 July 2012 }} '''David Greig '''"'''Skippy'''"''' Browning Jr.''' (June 5, 1931 – March 13, 1956) was a diver from the United States and Olympic champion. He represented the US at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, where he received a gold medal in springboard diving.<ref name="db-ol-DIV1952">{{cite web |url=http://www.databaseolympics.com/games/gamessport.htm?g=13&sp=DIV |title=Diving results for the 1952 Summer Olympics |website=databaseOlympics.com |accessdate=July 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923205152/http://databaseolympics.com/games/gamessport.htm?g=13&sp=DIV |archivedate=September 23, 2012}}</ref><ref name="TSHA">{{cite web |url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fbrab |title=BROWNING, DAVID GREIG, JR. |work=Handbook of Texas Online |publisher=Texas State Historical Association |accessdate=July 25, 2012}}</ref> After his Olympic victory in Helsinki, Browning shinnied up a flag pole to steal an Olympic flag and was arrested.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wallechinsky |first1=David |authorlink1=David Wallechinsky |last2=Loucky |first2=Jaime |year=2012 |title=The Complete Book of the Olympics 2012 Edition |page=593 |location=London |publisher=Aurum Press |isbn=978-1-84513-695-6}}</ref>
Browning married Corinne L. Couch on September 7, 1950. In January 1953 he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in business administration. In June 1955 he received his wings as a pilot in the United States Navy at Pensacola, Florida.
On March 13, 1956, he was on a training flight in a North American FJ-3 Fury jet carrier fighter when the plane crashed near Rantoul, Kansas, killing Browning.<ref name="TSHA"/> At the time, he was scheduled to be reassigned to Los Angeles to begin training for the 1956 Summer Olympics.<ref name="ishof">{{cite web |url=http://www.ishof.org/david-skippy-browning-(usa).html |title=David "Skippy" Browning (USA) – 1975 Honor Diver |year=1975 |website=ISHOF.org |publisher=International Swimming Hall of Fame |access-date=July 25, 2012 |archive-date=September 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905174717/http://ishof.org/david-skippy-browning-(usa).html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Browning was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1975.<ref name="ishof"/> His father was his coach and instructor.{{citation needed|date=August 2016}}
==See also== * List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category-inline}} * {{sports links}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions Diving Men 3 Metre Springboard}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Browning, David}} Category:1931 births Category:1956 deaths Category:Accidental deaths in Kansas Category:American male divers Category:Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in the United States Category:Divers at the 1952 Summer Olympics Category:Highland Park High School (University Park, Texas) alumni Category:Medalists at the 1952 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in diving Category:Sportspeople from Boston Category:Texas Longhorns men's divers Category:United States Naval Aviators Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1956 Category:Military personnel from Massachusetts Category:20th-century American sportsmen