Donald Harper

Donald de Wayne "Don" Harper (June 4, 1932 – November 30, 2017) was an American diver who competed for Ohio State University and won a silver medal in springboard diving at the 1956 Summer Olympics.

Harper was born in Redwood City, California on June 4, 1932, to Owen and Sarah Harper.

Between 1950 and 1955, Harper won five US National championships, two NCAA championships, and five National AAU championships in the 3m springboard.

Ohio State Harper attended Ohio State University, enrolling in 1953, where he dove for Hall of Fame Coach Mike Peppe who also served as his 1956 U.S. Olympic Diving Coach. During his diving career, Harper captured AAU titles on the 1 metre springboard in 1959 and 1960. He won AAU titles in the 3 metre springboard indoors in 1956 and 1958, also winning the team title in 1956, his Olympic year.

He took the 3-metre outdoor title in 1955 and 1959. He won AAU platform diving honors in 1961. In 1956, he was NCAA champion on the 3-metre springboard, and on both the 1- and 3-metre springboards in 1958. In January 1962, he received Diver of the Year honors from the Columbus Touchdown Club for his performance in 1961.