(Jul. 18, 1896 – Sep. 7, 1988) Thelma Payne swam her way to greatness as an Olympic medalist in springboard diving and as an advertising model, one that continues to be famous across the nation.

Payne, later Payne-Sanborn, was born in 1896 and matured in her sport at the Multnomah Athletic Club under coach Jack Cody. She won national diving titles in 1918-20 and competed in the 3-meter event at the Antwerp, Belgium, Olympic Games, the first after World War I and also the first with diving events. She won the bronze.

Following the Games, Payne served as a model for an advertisement being produced for the Jantzen Swim Company, and the image of her turned into the “Diving Girl,” which continues to be connected with the company on its website. Jantzen credits the Diving Girl as being the most widely traveled lady in America due to stickers attached to automobile windows.

Payne moved to Los Angeles in 1926 and coached swimmers there, including several Olympic contenders and the children of many Hollywood stars such as John Wayne.

She was inducted to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1983. Payne passed away in Los Angeles in 1988.