Who was the first Asian American to win a gold medal in the Olympics?

Two Asian Americans won gold medals at the same Olympic games and share the honor of the first Asian American to win a gold medal in the Olympics.

Victoria ("Vicki") Manalo Draves (née Manalo), was the first Asian American to win an Olympic gold medal. She won gold medals in both platform and springboard diving at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, winning her springboard gold medal on August 3, 1948 and her 10-meter platform gold medal on August 6, 1948. Manalo was born in the South-of-Market district of San Francisco to Philippine chef and musician Teofilo Manalo and English maid Gertrude Taylor.

Vicki Draves, Unknown (Associated Press), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Sammy Lee was the first Asian American man to win an Olympic gold medal. Lee won an Olympic gold medal and the first diver to win consecutive Olympic gold medals in the platform event. Lee was born Samuel Rhee on August 1, 1920 in Fresno, California. Lee overcame discrimination in California where he was disallowed to use the local pool, except for a single training day a week. Lee led the U.S. diving team at the 1960 Olympics and judged diving competitions. Lee obtained a medical degree and practiced as an otolaryngologist.

Sammy Lee, Associated Press, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Draves is reported to have turned to Lee before her gold medal dive, saying “I can’t do this, Sammy.” Lee responded, “Get up there and do what you are supposed to do.” Some media reports inaccurately identified Lee as the first Asian American Olympic gold medalist. Draves won her gold medal two days before Lee earned his gold medal.