David Browning

{{Short description|American diver (1931–1956)}}

{{use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| headercolor =

| name = David Browning

| image = David Browning 1952.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Browning at the 1952 Olympics

| birth_name =

| full_name = David Greig Browning Jr.

| nickname = Skippy

| residence =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1931|06|05}}

| birth_place = Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|1956|03|13|1931|06|05}}

| death_place = Near Rantoul, Kansas, U.S.

| education = Business administration, University of Texas

| occupation = United States Naval Aviator

| yearsactive = 1948–1956

| height =

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| website =

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| sport = Diving

| event = Springboard diving

| collegeteam =

| universityteam = University of Texas

| club = Texas Longhorns{{cite Sports-Reference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418065834/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/br/skippy-browning-1.html |title=Skippy Browning |archive-date=2020-04-18 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/br/skippy-browning-1.html |url-status=dead}}

| team =

| turnedpro =

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| retired =

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| worlds =

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| nationals =

| olympics = 1952

| paralympics =

| highestranking =

| pb =

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}

{{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}}

{{MedalGold| 1952 Helsinki | Springboard}}

{{MedalCountry | Texas }}

{{MedalCompetition|NCAA}}

{{MedalGold | 1951 Austin | 1 meter diving}}

{{MedalGold | 1951 Austin | 3 meter diving}}

{{MedalGold | 1952 Princeton | 1 meter diving}}

{{MedalGold | 1952 Princeton | 3 meter diving}}

| show-medals = yes

| updated = 25 July 2012

}}

David Greig "Skippy" Browning Jr. (June 5, 1931 – March 13, 1956) was a diver from the United States and Olympic champion. He represented the US at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, where he received a gold medal in springboard diving.{{cite web |url=http://www.databaseolympics.com/games/gamessport.htm?g=13&sp=DIV |title=Diving results for the 1952 Summer Olympics |website=databaseOlympics.com |accessdate=July 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923205152/http://databaseolympics.com/games/gamessport.htm?g=13&sp=DIV |archivedate=September 23, 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fbrab |title=BROWNING, DAVID GREIG, JR. |work=Handbook of Texas Online |publisher=Texas State Historical Association |accessdate=July 25, 2012}} After his Olympic victory in Helsinki, Browning shinnied up a flag pole to steal an Olympic flag and was arrested.{{cite book |last1=Wallechinsky |first1=David |authorlink1=David Wallechinsky |last2=Loucky |first2=Jaime |year=2012 |title=The Complete Book of the Olympics 2012 Edition |page=593 |location=London |publisher=Aurum Press |isbn=978-1-84513-695-6}}

Browning married Corinne L. Couch on September 7, 1950. In January 1953 he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in business administration. In June 1955 he received his wings as a pilot in the United States Navy at Pensacola, Florida. On March 13, 1956, he was on a training flight in a North American FJ Fury jet carrier fighter when the plane crashed near Rantoul, Kansas, killing Browning. At the time, he was scheduled to be reassigned to Los Angeles to begin training for the 1956 Summer Olympics.{{cite web |url=http://www.ishof.org/david-skippy-browning-(usa).html |title=David "Skippy" Browning (USA) – 1975 Honor Diver |year=1975 |website=ISHOF.org |publisher=International Swimming Hall of Fame |access-date=July 25, 2012 |archive-date=September 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905174717/http://ishof.org/david-skippy-browning-(usa).html |url-status=dead }}

Browning was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1975. His father was his coach and instructor.{{citation needed|date=August 2016}}