By Shirley Hawkins
Contributing Writer
LOS ANGELES — The 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris were welcomed by a group of about 400 people at the Korean Senior and Community Center July 26 for a watch party of the Olympic Opening Ceremony.
The event was hosted by City Councilwoman Heather Hutt, who was joined by Yong Sin Shin, chairwoman of the Koreatown Senior and Community Center; Douglas Chong, president of the Korean American Chamber of Congress Los Angeles; and Hyungman Park, chairman of the Manhee Koju Foundation.
Before the opening ceremony began, the audience was entertained by the Korean Senior and Community Center Drum Class.
“Celebrating the Olympics here at the Korean Senior and Community Center, which is located on Dr. Sammy Lee Square is particularly meaningful,” Hutt said. “The Olympics are a powerful display of the power of global unity and peace. Today is about coming together as a community, combining cultures and honoring those who have paved the way for us.”
Hutt wanted to pay homage to Lee, a Korean physician and diver who was the first Asian man to win a bronze medal in the Summer Olympics in London in 1948. Four years later he won a gold medal in the 10-meter platform diving competition at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland.
“Dr. Sammy Lee was a Korean-American diver who became the first Asian and Korean American man to win an Olympic gold medal for the United States,” Hutt said. “This being a place where we celebrate traditions, support one another, and draw strength from history, it is fitting that we gather here to celebrate the Olympics and honor athletes such as Dr. Lee, as it recognizes the image of the importance of unity.”
Similar to many African Americans, Lee experienced his share of discrimination growing up.
Like African Americans, he was barred from practicing in his local pool until the day before the pool was drained and filled with clean water.
“Even though Lee faced prejudice, he did not let that stop him,” Hutt said. “He bravely overcame many barriers.”
Lee was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1968 and was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1990.
To honor his legacy, the city unveiled Sammy Lee Square in 2010, which is located at the corner of Olympic Boulevard and Normandie Avenue.
The Los Angeles Unified School District honored Lee by renaming Central Region Elementary School No. 20 as the Dr. Sammy Lee Medical and Health Sciences Magnet School in 2013.
After his diving career ended, Lee focused on his medical career, practicing as an ear, nose, and throat specialist.
However, he remained involved in diving, coaching the 1960 U.S. Olympic team and the 1964 Japanese and Korean squads. He also trained gold medalists Bob Webster and Greg Louganis.
He died from complications of pneumonia on Dec. 2, 2016 at his home in Newport Beach at the age of 96.
Shirley Hawkins is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers. She can be reached at metropressnews@gmail.com.
