Career
In April, 1936, Degener, along with many other sports champions and stand outs, was honored at a banquet in Detroit, Michigan. This Banquet was the first celebration of Champions Day. In July, 1936, A plaque was presented to Detroit from the White House honoring Detroit as the City of Champions. The plaque has five "medallions" featuring athletes.
Originally the plans called for these five athletes to be a baseball player, football player, hockey player, power boat racer, and a boxer.
But Joe Louis was surprisingly knocked out in a boxing match just weeks before the plaque was to be presented. Planners changed the boxer to a diver, to represent Degener, at the last minute.
Degener introduced the full layout in which his body seemed to soar, lazy-like and graceful in the air. This astonished the diving world and caused a buzz of admiration around the pool.
"If there is one thing I"ve gotten out of sports, it"s that I learned to be intense and to do the job."
Degener never lost a diving contest in college during the three years he represented Michigan from 1931 to 1934 as he took the Big Ten and National Collegiate championship.
Degener later turned pro with the Billy Rose Aquacade when it opened in Cleveland. In 1971, Degener was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
