About Bruce Harlan
Lived 1926 – 1959 (aged 33). Bruce Harlan was an American competitive diver.
Bruce Ira Harlan (January 2, 1926 – June 22, 1959) was a diver and Olympic champion from the United States. He represented his native country at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, where he received one gold medal and one silver medal.
Harlan was a high school wrestler and pole vaulter in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, and served in the United States Navy during World War II. Harlan coached diving at the University of Michigan from 1954 to 1959. On June 21, 1959, he took part in a diving exhibition in Fairfield, Connecticut. While helping to dismantle the scaffolding of the diving tower, Harlan fell to his death.
In 1961 the Michigan Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (MISCA) created an award in Harlan's honor. The award is given annually to a diving coach who demonstrates continued leadership, contributions, and service to Michigan high school diving.
Harlan was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1973.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Bruce Harlan's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Bruce Harlan?
American diver (1926–1959)
When was Bruce Harlan born?
Bruce Harlan was born on 2 January 1926 in Pennsylvania.
When did Bruce Harlan die?
Bruce Harlan died on 22 June 1959 in Norwalk.
What was Bruce Harlan's occupation?
Bruce Harlan was a competitive diver.
What nationality was Bruce Harlan?
Bruce Harlan was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Bruce Harlan. https://biography.guide/bruce-harlan/
MLA: "Bruce Harlan." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/bruce-harlan/.
Chicago: "Bruce Harlan." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/bruce-harlan/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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