Louis Kuehn

Louis Kuehn
Keuhn in his youth, at the 1920 Olympics
Personal information
NationalityUSA
Born(1901-04-02)April 2, 1901
Portland, Oregon, United States
DiedMarch 30, 1981(1981-03-30) (aged 79)
West Linn, Oregon, United States
EducationNorthwestern University (Law)
OccupationsAttorney
District Court Clerk
Sport
SportDiving
Event
Springboard Diving
College teamOklahoma State University
ClubMultinomah Athletic Club
Coached byJack Cody (Multinomah)
Medal record
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place1920 Antwerp3 m springboard

Louis Edward "Hap" Kuehn (April 2, 1901 – March 30, 1981) was an American diver who competed for Oklahoma State University and participated in the 1920 Summer Olympics where he won a gold medal in springboard diving.[1]

Lois Edward Kuehn was born April 2, 1901 in greater Portland, Oregon to German immigrant Louis Kuehn and Dorothea Schaeffer Kuehn.[2] By 18, he competed in swimming and diving with the strong program at the Portland's Multinomah Club where he was coached by Jack Cody, an International Swimming Hall of Fame inductee.[3]

Kuehn was twice a state diving champion before capturing the national Junior championship in 1919 prior to attending the Olympics. Kuehn finished second at the 1920 AAU Diving Championships.[4][1]

Oregon State University

After the Olympics, he attended Oregon State University, graduating in 1926,[5] at the time known as Oregon Agricultural College in Corvallis, Oregon. At Oregon State, he competed with their swimming and diving team and served as a student coach. Fellow American 1920 diving Olympian and medalist Clarence Pinkston also attended Oregon Agricultural College in 1920-21.[6]

1920 Olympics

Kuehn in Center, wrestler Edwin Ackerly left, track gold medalist C.W. "Charley" Paddock right at 1920 Olympics

Kuehn's trip to the Olympic trials were funded by his father Louis.[4]At the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, Kuehn won the gold medal in the 3 m springboard, under Head Olympic Swimming Coach Bill Bachrach of the Illinois Athletic Club. Kuehn became the first American to win the Olympic springboard title. The 1920 springboard competition included competition on both the 1 and 3 metre springboard. The springboard competition that year in Antwerp had compulsory dives that included a forward dive, hand on sides on entry, a back dive with half-twist, a forward running 1½ pike, an inward somersault pike a reverse dive, in layout position, and a reverse dive, in pike position, with hands on side at entry.

The Americans swept the medals with Stanford diver Clarence Pinkston taking the silver and Louis Balbach taking the bronze. Kuehn had previously placed second to Pinkston at the 1920 AAU Diving Championship, but placed ahead of him in the Olympic competition.[1][7]

Kuehn served in the Second World War, as a Naval swimming and diving instructor. He trained and competed with the Navy diving team during his service.[8][4]

After acquiring a law degree from Northwestern University, he practiced law in Oregon. For 30 years, he served as a Multnomah County District court clerk.[4]

Kuehn died March 30, 1981 at a nursing home in Portland, Oregon at the age of 79.[8] He was survived by his wife Frieda Wigrield Kuehn, a sister and a nephew. Funeral services were held April 3 by Finley-Sunset Hills Chapel on Sunset Highway.[9]

Honors

Kuehn became a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame as a pioneer diver, and is also a member of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Louis Kuehn". Olympedia. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  2. ↑ ""Obituary of Louis Koehn, Father of Louis E. Kuehn of Portland", The Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, February 8, 1934, pg. 20". Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  3. 1 2 "International Swimming Hall of Fame, Louis Kuehn". Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Louis Kuehn, Oregon Sports Hall of Fame". Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Oregon State University Special Collections, Louis Kuehn". Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Oregon State: Meet the Olympians". Archived from the original on 2007-12-06. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  7. ↑ "Oregon State: Meet the Olympians". Archived from the original on 2007-12-06. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  8. 1 2 "Oregon Ex-Olympian Dies", The Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, April 2, 1981, pg. 11". Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  9. ↑ ""Obituaries, Kuehn, Louis E.", The Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, April 1, 1981, pg. 68". Retrieved July 30, 2026.
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