Constance Meyer

Meyer was born Constance Cycil Ralph in St Martin's, England on September 17, 1882, to Charles A. Ralph and Theresa Davies.U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims, 19471910 United States Census, U.S. Census Bureau Her family moved to Portland, Oregon during her childhood and she found employment at a box factory in her late teens.1900 United States Census, U.S. Census Bureau On September 18, 1900, she married William N. Meyer at Forbes Presbyterian Church in Portland.U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701–1970 The couple had two children, Charles F. Meyer and William R. Meyer.{{cite news |title=Dressler |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/california/san-mateo/san-mateo-times/1967/01-06/page-23/ |access-date=30 October 2022 |work=San Mateo Times |date=6 January 1967 |location=San Mateo, California |page=23}}

Meyer first learned how to swim at the Portland YWCA in 1912. She joined the diving and swimming program at the Multnomah Athletic Club in 1913 under the instruction of Jack Cody.{{cite news |title=Girl swimmer in form for contest |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1915-05-16/ed-1/seq-20/#index=0&rows=20&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&searchType=basic&sequence=0&words=Constance+Meyer&page=1 |accessdate=August 10, 2018 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=May 16, 1915 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=20}} In June 1913, she took first place in a 50-yard swim meet.{{cite news |title=Eugene swimmers take two events |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1913-06-14/ed-1/seq-6/#sort=date&city=&rows=20&words=Constance+Meyer&language=&sequence=0&index=1&date1=&proxdistance=&county=&date2=&frequency=&ortext=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&phrasetext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=&page=1 |accessdate=August 10, 2018 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=June 14, 1913 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=6}} The first competitive diving event Meyer competed in occurred on August 23, 1913, at a swimming meet at Peninsula Park. She took first place in the women's senior diving open, which was open to entrants 16 years and older. Meyer competed in the Multnomah Athletic Club's annual Christmas Day swim meet in 1913, placing second in a 50-yard event. Meyer joined a Multnomah Athletic Club women's water polo team in October 1913.{{cite news |title=Women tackle polo |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1913-10-29/ed-1/seq-7/#sort=relevance&index=8&rows=20&words=Constance+Myers&searchType=basic&sequence=0&proxtext=constance+myer&page=1 |accessdate=August 12, 2018 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=October 29, 1913 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=7}} In March 1915, Meyer joined a fledgling women's ice hockey team in Portland.{{cite news |title=Society News |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1915-03-13/ed-1/seq-10/#sort=date&city=&rows=20&words=Constance+Meyer&language=&sequence=0&index=7&date1=&proxdistance=&county=&date2=&frequency=&ortext=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&phrasetext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=&page=1 |accessdate=August 11, 2018 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=March 13, 1915 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=10}}

The Multnomah Athletic Club was invited to send competitors to the Amateur Athletic Union Diving and Swimming Championships in 1915, which were being held in conjunction with the Panama–Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, California. Meyer was one of three competitors that represented Multnomah.{{cite news |last1=Earl R. |first1=Goodwin |title=Winged M trio of swimmers named |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1915-07-13/ed-1/seq-10/#sort=relevance&index=16&rows=20&words=Constance+Meyer&searchType=basic&sequence=0&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&page=1 |accessdate=August 10, 2018 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=July 13, 1915 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=10}} Meyer won the AAU title by default on July 19, 1915, since there were no other entries.{{cite news |title=Norman Ross Is Back From Fair |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1915-07-30/ed-1/seq-10/#sort=date&city=&rows=20&words=Constance+Meyer&language=&sequence=0&index=18&date1=&proxdistance=&county=&date2=&frequency=&ortext=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&phrasetext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=&page=1 |accessdate=August 11, 2018 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=July 30, 1915 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=10}}{{cite news |title=Connie Meyer is winner |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn85042444/1915-07-19/ed-1/seq-12/#date1=01%2F01%2F1846&city=&date2=12%2F31%2F2019&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&lccn=sn85042444&index=1&words=Connie+CONNIE+Meyer+MEYER&proxdistance=5&county=&frequency=&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=Connie+Meyer&andtext=&rows=20&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 |accessdate=September 25, 2019 |work=The Oregon Daily Journal |date=July 19, 1915 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=12}} Following her AAU title victory, crowds would gather to watch Meyer practice.{{cite news |title=Crowds take dip at Seaside |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1915-08-22/ed-1/seq-39/#sort=date&city=&rows=20&words=Constance+Meyers&language=&sequence=0&index=0&date1=&proxdistance=&county=&date2=&frequency=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&andtext=&phrasetext=&ortext=&dateFilterType=&page=2 |accessdate=August 11, 2018 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=August 22, 1915 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=29}}

In January 1916, Meyer rejoined the Portland women's hockey team and served as team captain.{{cite news |title=Women hockeyists clash |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1916-01-26/ed-1/seq-15/#sort=date&city=&rows=20&words=Constance+Meyer&language=&sequence=0&index=4&date1=&proxdistance=&county=&date2=&frequency=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&andtext=&phrasetext=&ortext=&dateFilterType=&page=2 |accessdate=August 11, 2018 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=January 26, 1916 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=15}} Meyer took up tennis for the first time in June 1916. That month, she was the runner-up in a Multnomah Athletic Club tennis tournament.{{cite news |title=Mrs. Meyer takes 2 matches |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1916-06-08/ed-1/seq-19/#sort=date&city=&rows=20&words=Constance+Meyer&language=&sequence=0&index=8&date1=&proxdistance=&county=&date2=&frequency=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&andtext=&phrasetext=&ortext=&dateFilterType=&page=2 |accessdate=August 11, 2018 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=June 8, 1916 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=19}}

Meyer went to the Los Angeles Athletic Club in Los Angeles, California to defend her AAU diving title on June 29, 1916.{{cite news |title=Diving Champion Here for Big Meet |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=LAH19160627.2.502&srpos=9&e=------191-en--20--1--txt-txIN-Constance+Meyer-------1 |accessdate=11 August 2018 |work=Los Angeles Herald |date=27 June 1916 |location=Los Angeles, California |page=21}} She had just five days notice before the event and was originally scheduled to play a tennis match in St. Helens, Oregon on the date of the AAU meet.{{cite news |title=Diver starts south |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1916-06-25/ed-1/seq-23/#sort=date&city=&rows=20&words=Constance+Meyer&language=&sequence=0&index=15&date1=&proxdistance=&county=&date2=&frequency=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&andtext=&phrasetext=&ortext=&dateFilterType=&page=2 |accessdate=August 11, 2018 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=June 25, 1916 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=23}}{{cite news |title=St. Helens wins from Vernon |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/2004260419/1916-06-16/ed-1/seq-1/#sort=date&city=&rows=20&words=Constance+Meyer+Meyers&language=&sequence=0&index=12&date1=&proxdistance=&county=&date2=&frequency=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&andtext=&phrasetext=&ortext=&dateFilterType=&page=2 |accessdate=August 11, 2018 |work=St. Helens Mist |date=June 16, 1916 |location=St. Helens, Oregon |page=1}} Meyer placed second, with a score of 351 points, to Los Angeles diver Aileen Allen, who scored 370 points.{{cite news |title=Portland diver loses |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1916-06-30/ed-1/seq-14/#sort=date&city=&rows=20&words=Constance+CONSTANCE+Meyer+MEYER&language=&sequence=0&index=17&date1=&proxdistance=&county=&date2=&frequency=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&andtext=&phrasetext=&ortext=&dateFilterType=&page=2 |accessdate=August 11, 2018 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=June 30, 1916 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=14}} Meyer petitioned the AAU to strip Allen of the title on the grounds she performed at Vaudeville shows and should be considered a professional athlete, but the AAU took no action.{{cite news |title=Miss Allen's Right to Title Questioned |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=LAH19160704.2.272&srpos=15&e=------191-en--20--1--txt-txIN-Constance+Meyer-------1 |accessdate=11 August 2018 |work=Los Angeles Herald |date=4 July 1916 |location=Los Angeles, California |page=23}}{{cite news |title=Diving protest is lost |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1916-09-11/ed-1/seq-10/#sort=date&city=&rows=20&words=Constance+Meyer&language=&sequence=0&index=12&date1=&proxdistance=&county=&date2=&frequency=&ortext=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&phrasetext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=&page=3 |accessdate=August 11, 2018 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=September 11, 1916 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=10}}

Meyer performed in several diving exhibitions in 1916 including the Astoria Regatta, the Happy Canyon Round-Up in Pendleton, Oregon and Frontier Days in Walla Walla, Washington.{{cite news |title=Astoria dons best dress for guests |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1916-08-29/ed-1/seq-6/#sort=date&city=&rows=20&words=Constance+Meyer&language=&sequence=0&index=9&date1=&proxdistance=&county=&date2=&frequency=&ortext=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&phrasetext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=&page=3 |accessdate=August 11, 2018 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=August 29, 1916 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=6}}{{cite news |title=Happy Canyon divers arrive |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn88086023/1916-09-20/ed-1/seq-7/#sort=date&city=&rows=20&words=Constance+Meyers&language=&sequence=0&index=15&date1=&proxdistance=&county=&date2=&frequency=&ortext=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&phrasetext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=&page=3 |accessdate=August 11, 2018 |work=East Oregonian |date=September 20, 1916 |location=Pendleton, Oregon |page=7}}{{cite news |title=Diving and Cloud Jumping |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn94052320/1916-10-13/ed-1/seq-1/#sort=date&city=&rows=20&words=Constance+Meyers&language=&sequence=0&index=18&date1=&proxdistance=&county=&date2=&frequency=&ortext=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&phrasetext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=&page=3 |accessdate=August 11, 2018 |work=The Weston Leader |date=October 13, 1916 |location=Weston, Oregon |page=1}} During the Multnomah Athletic Club's Christmas Day swim in 1916, Meyer was scheduled to dive from the Morrison Bridge to the Willamette River. If the river was iced over, the club would to perform the third act of Uncle Tom's Cabin, in which Meyer would play "Eliza" crossing the ice on the Willamette.{{cite news |title=Swim on Christmas |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1916-12-17/ed-1/seq-26/#date1=01%2F01%2F1846&city=&date2=12%2F31%2F1916&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&lccn=&index=9&words=diving+Meyer&proxdistance=50&county=&frequency=&ortext=&proxtext=Meyer+diving&phrasetext=&andtext=&rows=20&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=2 |accessdate=August 15, 2018 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=December 17, 1916 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=26}}

File:Ice tennis in 1917.jpeg.]]

In January 1917, Meyer played a match of ice tennis against Irene Campbell, which was the first of its kind in Oregon. The match was conceived by William F. Scott, manager of the Portland Ice Arena, who intended to make the sport a regular fixture of pre-game festivities at ice hockey games. Campbell defeated Meyer, 6–3.{{cite news |title=Portland women play ice tennis |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1917-01-09/ed-1/seq-14/#sort=relevance&index=14&rows=20&words=CONSTANCE+Constance+MEYER+Meyer&searchType=basic&sequence=0&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&page=1 |accessdate=August 10, 2018 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=January 9, 1917 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=14}}

The Multnomah Athletic Club was awarded the hosting duties of the AAU Women's National Diving Championships in 1917. During her training for the event, Meyer broke an ear drum.{{cite news |title=Interest shown in swimming contest |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1917-05-17/ed-1/seq-17/#sort=date&city=&rows=20&words=CONSTANCE+Constance+MEYER+Meyer&language=&sequence=0&index=8&date1=&proxdistance=&county=&date2=&frequency=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&andtext=&phrasetext=&ortext=&dateFilterType=&page=4 |accessdate=August 11, 2018 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=May 17, 1917 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=10}} To prevent further injury Meyer packed her ear with cotton and sealed it with paraffin wax.{{cite news |title=Swim and diving titles to be staged tonight |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn85042444/1917-05-19/ed-1/seq-10/#date1=01%2F01%2F1846&city=&date2=12%2F31%2F2019&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&lccn=sn85042444&index=9&words=Constance+Meyer&proxdistance=5&county=&frequency=&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=Constance+Meyer&andtext=&rows=20&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 |accessdate=September 25, 2019 |work=The Oregon Daily Journal |date=May 19, 1917 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=10}} No national diving competitors made the trek to Oregon so the AAU title meet—which took place on May 19—was staged exclusively with state-wide participants, most of them who represented the host club.{{cite news |title=Divers vie tonight |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1917-05-19/ed-1/seq-14/#index=2&rows=20&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&searchType=basic&sequence=0&words=Constance+Meyer&page=1 |accessdate=August 10, 2018 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=May 19, 1917 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=14}} Meyer placed first in the event ahead of second-place finisher Helen Hicks and third-place finisher Thelma Payne.{{cite news |title=Connie Meyer wins diving championship |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014682/1917-06-01/ed-2/seq-8/#date1=1917&index=3&rows=20&words=Constance+MEYER+Meyer&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=&date2=1917&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&y=15&x=21&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 |accessdate=August 11, 2018 |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |date=June 1, 1917 |location=Honolulu, Hawaii |page=8}}

Meyer followed-up her AAU title victory with a second-place finish during a diving meet at the 1917 Rose Festival in Portland.{{cite news |title=Festival aquatic events are staged |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1917-06-14/ed-1/seq-17/#sort=date&city=&rows=20&words=Constance+Meyer&language=&sequence=0&index=13&date1=&proxdistance=&county=&date2=&frequency=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&andtext=&phrasetext=&ortext=&dateFilterType=&page=4 |accessdate=August 11, 2018 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=June 14, 1917 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=17}} Meyer took first place at the 10 foot springboard event during the 1917 Pacific Coast Indoor Diving Championships on July 27 at Idora Park in Oakland, California.{{cite news |title=Nymph is training |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1917-07-29/ed-1/seq-20/#index=9&rows=20&proxtext=Connie+Meyer&searchType=basic&sequence=0&words=Connie+Meyer&page=1 |accessdate=August 10, 2018 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=July 29, 1917 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=20}} During the event, she introduced a new diving form called the "volplane". Following her Pacific Coast title victory, Meyer issued a challenge to national divers.{{cite news |title=She Issues Defy to Ducks |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87093407/1917-08-17/ed-1/seq-10/#date1=1917&index=2&rows=20&words=Constance+Meyer&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=&date2=1917&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&y=15&x=21&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 |accessdate=August 11, 2018 |work=The Seattle Star |date=August 17, 1917 |location=Seattle, Washington |page=10}} On September 3, 1917, Meyer won a diving contest at the Astoria Regatta. That year, she began training for competitive high diving events from 16 and 24 foot platforms.{{cite news |title=Swimming and Diving Notes |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1917-08-12/ed-1/seq-22/#date1=01%2F01%2F1917&city=&date2=12%2F31%2F1920&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&lccn=&index=3&words=diving+Diving+Meyer&proxdistance=50&county=&frequency=&ortext=&proxtext=Meyer+diving&phrasetext=&andtext=&rows=20&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=2 |accessdate=August 15, 2018 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=August 12, 1917 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=22}}

Meyer's first diving competition of 1918 was the Oregon State Diving Championship, which was held at the Multnomah Athletic Club on January 12. She placed first with a score of 133.5.{{cite news |title=Multnomah stars swim to victory |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1918-01-13/ed-1/seq-8/ |accessdate=August 11, 2018 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=January 13, 1918 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=8}} In March 1918, Meyer moved to Tacoma, Washington, but continued to compete under the auspices of the Multnomah Athletic Club.{{cite news |title=Tacoma Wins Constance Meyer, Noted Diver |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1918-03-17/ed-1/seq-28/#index=10&rows=20&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&searchType=basic&sequence=0&words=CONSTANCE+Constance+MEYER+Meyer&page=1 |accessdate=August 10, 2018 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=March 17, 1918 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=28}} Two months later, a notice of separation was published in The Oregonian by Constance's husband, William N. Meyer.{{cite news |title=Miscellaneous |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1917-05-19/ed-1/seq-14/#index=2&rows=20&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&searchType=basic&sequence=0&words=Constance+Meyer&page=1 |accessdate=August 10, 2018 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=May 2, 1918 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=14}} On March 21, 1919, he was granted a divorce on grounds of "desertion".{{cite news |title=Divorces crowd court |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1919-03-22/ed-1/seq-7/#sort=relevance&index=14&rows=20&words=Constance+Meyer&searchType=basic&sequence=0&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&page=2 |accessdate=August 10, 2018 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=March 22, 1919 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=7}}

Meyer returned to competitive diving in May 1918 to train for the upcoming AAU Women's Diving Championship, which was scheduled for July 20 at the Multnomah Athletic Club.{{cite news |title=Diving aces ready |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1918-07-07/ed-1/seq-20/#sort=date&city=&rows=20&words=Constance+CONSTANCE+Meyer+MEYER&language=&sequence=0&index=6&date1=&proxdistance=&county=&date2=&frequency=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&andtext=&phrasetext=&ortext=&dateFilterType=&page=6 |accessdate=August 11, 2018 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=July 7, 1918 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=20}} Thelma Payne won the AAU Championship, with Meyer coming in second.{{cite news |title=Thelma Payne new diving champion |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1918-07-21/ed-1/seq-10/#sort=date&city=&rows=20&words=Constance+Meyers&language=&sequence=0&index=9&date1=&proxdistance=&county=&date2=&frequency=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&andtext=&phrasetext=&ortext=&dateFilterType=&page=6 |accessdate=August 11, 2018 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=July 21, 1918 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=10}} Meyer and Payne represented the Multnomah Athletic Club at the 1918 Pacific Coast Diving Championship in Victoria, British Columbia on August 24.{{cite news |title=M.A.A.C. swimmers to go to Victoria |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1918-07-28/ed-1/seq-20/#sort=date&city=&rows=20&words=Constance+Meyer&language=&sequence=0&index=12&date1=&proxdistance=&county=&date2=&frequency=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&andtext=&phrasetext=&ortext=&dateFilterType=&page=6 |accessdate=August 11, 2018 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=July 28, 1918 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=20}} Payne again bested Meyer for the title.{{cite news |title=Cunha wins in water |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1918-08-25/ed-1/seq-8/#sort=date&city=&rows=20&words=Constance+Meyers&language=&sequence=0&index=15&date1=&proxdistance=&county=&date2=&frequency=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&andtext=&phrasetext=&ortext=&dateFilterType=&page=6 |accessdate=August 11, 2018 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=August 25, 1918 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=8}}

File:Constance Meyer 1915.jpeg

Meyer trained for the 1919 AAU title meet, but bowed out when the venue was switched from the Los Angeles Athletic Club to the Detroit Athletic Club.{{cite news |title=Date not satisfactory |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1918-12-31/ed-1/seq-12/#date1=&city=&rows=20&words=Constance+Meyers&language=&sequence=0&index=19&proxdistance=&sort=date&date2=&frequency=&ortext=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&county=&phrasetext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=&page=6 |accessdate=August 12, 2018 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=December 31, 1918 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=12}} The only diver the Multnomah Athletic Club sent to 1919 AAU Diving Championship was Thelma Payne, who was the reigning title holder.{{cite news |title=Miss Payne will go east |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1919-03-16/ed-1/seq-28/#date1=&city=&rows=20&andtext=&words=Constance+Meyer&language=&sequence=0&index=2&proxdistance=&sort=date&date2=&frequency=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&county=&phrasetext=&ortext=&dateFilterType=&page=7 |accessdate=August 12, 2018 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=March 16, 1919 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=28}}

Meyer was struck on the heel by an automobile at the corner of Third avenue and Alder street in Portland on March 23, 1919. The driver, N. J. Braunstein, was arrested after Meyer went to the police.{{cite news |title=Auto driver contributes to Red Cross |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1919-03-26/ed-1/seq-11/#date1=&city=&rows=20&andtext=&words=Constance+Meyer&language=&sequence=0&index=3&proxdistance=&sort=date&date2=&frequency=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&county=&phrasetext=&ortext=&dateFilterType=&page=7 |accessdate=August 12, 2018 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=March 26, 1919 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=11}} During the court case, Meyer attempted to show the judge her injury and in doing so removed her stocking. According to The Oregon Daily Journal, Judge Rossman was notably embarrassed and dismissed the charges on the agreement that Braunstein donate $10 to the American Red Cross.{{cite news |title=Judge embarrassed diving Venus would take off stocking |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn85042444/1919-03-25/ed-1/seq-1/#date1=01%2F01%2F1846&city=&date2=12%2F31%2F2019&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&lccn=sn85042444&index=1&words=Constance+Meyer&proxdistance=5&county=&frequency=&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=Constance+Meyer&andtext=&rows=20&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=2 |accessdate=September 25, 2019 |work=The Oregon Daily Journal |date=March 25, 1919 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=1}}

On May 3, 1919, Meyer competed at the Pacific Northwest Indoor Diving Championship at the Multnomah Athletic Club.{{cite news |title=Many entrants here for swimming meet |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1919-05-02/ed-1/seq-18/#date1=&city=&rows=20&andtext=&words=Constance+Meyers&language=&sequence=0&index=4&proxdistance=&sort=date&date2=&frequency=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&county=&phrasetext=&ortext=&dateFilterType=&page=7 |accessdate=August 12, 2018 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=May 2, 1919 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=18}} During the 1919 Rose Festival in Portland, Meyer performed a diving exhibition.{{cite news |title=Sports event for festival numerous |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1919-06-08/ed-1/seq-29/#date1=&city=&rows=20&andtext=&words=Constance+Meyers&language=&sequence=0&index=6&proxdistance=&sort=date&date2=&frequency=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&county=&phrasetext=&ortext=&dateFilterType=&page=7 |accessdate=August 12, 2018 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=June 8, 1919 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=29}} Her next competitive diving meet came on July 4, 1919, during the Far West Diving Championship at Neptune Beach in Alameda, California.{{cite news |title=Women divers enter in California meet |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1919-06-29/ed-1/seq-26/#date1=&city=&rows=20&andtext=&words=Constance+Meyers&language=&sequence=0&index=8&proxdistance=&sort=date&date2=&frequency=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&county=&phrasetext=&ortext=&dateFilterType=&page=7 |accessdate=August 11, 2018 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=June 29, 1919 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=26}}{{cite news |title=National mile swim eyed by champions |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1919-06-15/ed-1/seq-26/#date1=&city=&rows=20&andtext=&words=Constance+Meyers&language=&sequence=0&index=7&proxdistance=&sort=date&date2=&frequency=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&county=&phrasetext=&ortext=&dateFilterType=&page=7 |accessdate=August 12, 2018 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=June 15, 1919 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=26}} She placed second in the event behind Aileen Allen, who represented the Los Angeles Athletic Club. A later review of the scores by The Oregonian contended that one of the judge's score was tallied wrong, which cost Meyer first place. Meyer also competed in that year's Pacific Coast Outdoor Diving Championship in Victoria, British Columbia, but again came in second to teammate Thelma Payne.{{cite news |title=Winged M aquatic team off |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1919-07-18/ed-1/seq-14/#date1=&city=&rows=20&andtext=&words=Constance+Meyers&language=&sequence=0&index=12&proxdistance=&sort=date&date2=&frequency=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&county=&phrasetext=&ortext=&dateFilterType=&page=7 |accessdate=August 12, 2018 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=July 18, 1919 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=14}}{{cite news |title=She Has Titles Galore |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1919-05-04/ed-1/seq-12/#date1=1919&index=9&rows=20&words=diving+Pacific&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=&date2=1919&proxtext=Pacific+diving&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 |accessdate=August 12, 2018 |work=New-York Tribune |date=May 4, 1919 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=12}} Meyer returned to Victoria, British Columbia on September 22, 1919, to perform for Edward VIII, Prince of Wales, during his tour of Canada, but the event was scrapped when the prince left for a hunting trip.{{cite news |title=Untitled |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1919-08-17/ed-1/seq-27/#date1=&city=&rows=20&andtext=&words=Constance+Meyers&language=&sequence=0&index=13&proxdistance=&sort=date&date2=&frequency=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&county=&phrasetext=&ortext=&dateFilterType=&page=7 |accessdate=August 12, 2018 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=August 17, 1919 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=27}}{{cite news |title=Untitled |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1919-09-25/ed-1/seq-13/#date1=&city=&rows=20&andtext=&words=Constance+Meyer&language=&sequence=0&index=16&proxdistance=&sort=date&date2=&frequency=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&county=&phrasetext=&ortext=&dateFilterType=&page=7 |accessdate=August 12, 2018 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=September 25, 1919 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=13}}

On December 23, 1919, Meyer married Lou C. Dressler in Vancouver, Washington. Meyer, who was eight years older than Dressler, declined to give her age on the marriage documents. Instead she listed her age as "legal".{{cite news |title="Connie" Meyer is bride |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1919-12-28/ed-1/seq-16/#index=6&rows=20&proxtext=Connie+Meyer&searchType=basic&sequence=0&words=CONNIE+MEYER&page=1 |accessdate=August 10, 2018 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=December 28, 1919 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=16}} Lou C. Dressler was a labor organizer for the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers.

In 1920, Meyer was hired to oversee swimming at the Columbia River beach in Portland.{{cite news |title=Untitled |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1920-05-20/ed-1/seq-17/#date1=01%2F01%2F1846&city=&date2=12%2F31%2F2018&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&lccn=&index=11&words=Constance+Meyers&proxdistance=5&county=&frequency=&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=Constance+Meyer&andtext=&rows=20&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=7 |accessdate=August 10, 2018 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=May 20, 1920 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=17}} Meyer took first place in the diving qualifying event for the 1920 Summer Olympics, but was not invited to join the United States team.{{cite news |title=Louis Kuehn May Not Take Part in Meet |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/78442130/?terms=%22Constance%2BMeyer%22 |accessdate=21 July 2020 |work=The Oregon Daily Journal |date=3 July 1920 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=8}}{{cite news |title=Olympic Tryouts for Swimmers Start Saturday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/27518873/?terms=%22Constance%2BMeyer%22 |accessdate=21 July 2020 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=24 June 1920 |location=San Francisco, California |page=14}} She competed in the 1920 Far West Diving Championship on June 26 at Neptune Beach in Alameda, California, where she placed third.{{cite news |title=Thelma Payne is defeated |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1920-06-27/ed-1/seq-26/#date1=05%2F20%2F1920&city=&date2=07%2F01%2F1920&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&lccn=&index=3&words=diving&proxdistance=5&county=&frequency=&ortext=diving&proxtext=&phrasetext=&andtext=&rows=20&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 |accessdate=August 12, 2018 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=June 27, 1920 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=26}} Meyer continued to compete sporadically in diving events until at least 1922, including that year's Oregon State Outdoor Diving Championship at the Oaks Natatorium in Sellwood, Portland, Oregon.{{cite news |title=3-ring show held in water at Oaks |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1922-07-30/ed-1/seq-24/#date1=&city=&rows=20&words=Constance+Meyers&language=&sequence=0&index=8&proxdistance=&sort=date&date2=&frequency=&ortext=&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&county=&phrasetext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=&page=8 |accessdate=August 12, 2018 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=July 30, 1922 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=24}}{{cite news |title=Water carnival today |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1922-07-29/ed-1/seq-14/#index=7&rows=20&proxtext=constance+myer&searchType=basic&sequence=0&words=Constance+Myers&page=2 |accessdate=August 12, 2018 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=July 29, 1922 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=14}} She placed first in the Oregon State Indoor Diving Championship at the Multnomah Athletic Club on March 11, 1922.

Meyer was credited by her teammate, Thelma Payne, in sparking her interest in diving when she witnessed Meyer perform at the Portland YWCA.{{cite news |title=Thelma Payne praised |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1922-03-05/ed-1/seq-28/#index=18&rows=20&words=Payne+Thelma&searchType=basic&sequence=0&proxtext=Thelma+Payne&page=7 |accessdate=August 12, 2018 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=March 5, 1922 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=28}}{{cite news |last1=DeFrantz |first1=Anita L. |title=Thelma Payne Sanborn; 1920 Olympic Games |url=http://library.la84.org/6oic/OralHistory/OHPayneSanborn.pdf |accessdate=12 August 2018 |work=Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles |date=March 1987 |location=Oxnard, California |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911231134/http://library.la84.org/6oic/OralHistory/OHPayneSanborn.pdf |archive-date=11 September 2016 |url-status=dead }} Meyer was also the first pupil of Jack Cody to win a national title. Cody, who went on to train several Olympic swimmers and divers, is in the International Swimming Hall of Fame as a coach.{{cite web |title=ISHOF Honorees; Jack Cody (USA), 1970 Honor Coach |url=https://ishof.org/jack-cody--(usa).html |website=ISHOF.org |publisher=International Swimming Hall of Fame |accessdate=12 August 2018}}

In 1922, DeWitt Harry for The Oregonian called Meyer the "grittiest and most daring amateur woman divers".{{cite news |last1=Harry |first1=DeWitt |title=Cody Sets Styles in Nations Divers |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1922-11-26/ed-1/seq-94/#sort=relevance&index=3&rows=20&words=Constance+Myers&searchType=basic&sequence=0&proxtext=constance+myer&page=1 |accessdate=August 12, 2018 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=November 26, 1922 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=94}} She was critical of the excessive clothing women divers and swimmers were required to wear for modesty. She would wear a one-piece swimsuit when the event permitted its use instead of the traditional skirt swimsuit that were ubiquitous at the time. In 1918, Meyer told the publication Sweater News: The Journal of the Sweater and Fancy Knit Goods Trade, "Were it not for the handicap of too much clothing, more women would be heard from in this sport. [...] Public opinion has hampered the popularity of the skirtless bathing suit more than anything else. I think women would generally accept it were it not for criticism."{{cite journal |title=Diver Recommends Skirtless Bathing Suit for Woman Swimmers |journal=Sweater News: The Journal of the Sweater and Fancy Knit Goods Trade |date=July 18, 1918 |volume=5 |page=57 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=daVAAQAAMAAJ&q=Constance+Meyer+diving&pg=RA7-PA57 |accessdate=August 12, 2018}} Meyer designed her own swimsuit and it was manufactured by the Olympia Woolen Mills in Olympia, Washington.

In 1930, Meyer made it into the finals of a golf tournament at the Ingleside Golf Course in San Francisco, California. According to her husband, Meyer had only taken up golf five days prior.{{cite news |title=Wife's Success At Golf Pleases Labor Organizer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/616907163/?terms=%22Constance%2BDressler%22 |accessdate=19 July 2020 |work=The Sacramento Bee |date=18 March 1930 |location=Sacramento, California |page=27}} She won the San Mateo Women's Golf Club Tournament on October 21, 1952.{{cite news |title=Mrs. Dressler Wins Mateo Women's Golf |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/38972834/?terms=%22Connie%20Meyer%22%20OR%20%22Connie%20Dressler%22&match=1 |access-date=25 April 2021 |work=The Times |date=22 October 1952 |location=San Mateo, California |page=19}} At 72 years of age, she was still golfing.{{cite news |title=She Still Golfs At 72; Connie Dressler of San Mateo Began Playing at Age of 40 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/657730994/?terms=%22Connie%20Meyer%22%20OR%20%22Connie%20Dressler%22&match=1 |access-date=25 April 2021 |work=The Kansas City Star |date=23 January 1955 |location=Kansas City, Missouri |page=78}}

Meyer and her husband moved to San Mateo County, California where they lived together until his death in 1946. She died at her San Mateo apartment on January 3, 1967, at the age of 84. Her death was described as "natural causes".{{cite news |title=Constance Dressler |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/52263983/?terms=%22Constance%2BDressler%22 |accessdate=19 July 2020 |work=The Times |date=4 January 1967 |location=San Mateo, California |page=50}} She was interred at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma, California.

;Bowling

;Swimming

;Diving

{{sup|§}}{{small|Miscalculations in one judge's score cost Meyer first place, according to The Oregonian.}}{{cite news |title=Hosford finds slip in diving records |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1919-10-05/ed-1/seq-28/#sort=relevance&index=19&rows=20&words=Constance+Meyer&searchType=basic&sequence=0&proxtext=Constance+Meyer&page=1 |accessdate=August 10, 2018 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=October 5, 1919 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=28}}

;Tennis

{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-bef|before = Elise Hannerman
Aileen Allen}}

{{s-ttl|title = Amateur Athletic Union
Women's Diving Champion|years = 1915
1917}}

{{s-aft|after = Aileen Allen
Thelma Payne }}

{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Meyer, Constance}}

Category:1882 births

Category:1967 deaths

Category:English female divers

Category:English female tennis players

Category:British female tennis players

Category:English female water polo players

Category:British female water polo players

Category:English women's ice hockey players

Category:Sportspeople from Portland, Oregon

Category:Burials at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park

Category:Sportspeople from San Mateo County, California

Category:People from the Isles of Scilly

Category:English emigrants to the United States