The Sammy Lee Diving Award 2
This represents the final version of the Sammy Lee Diving Award. The only known replica of this bronze was awarded to legendary gold-medalist, Italian diver Claus DiBiasi in Perth in 1998. This Ott version is similar to the version by Robert Kranz, although it is only half as tall (18 inches) and the globe is rendered solid instead of hollow. The sculpture itself is affixed by a bolt to a 5.5-inch square green marble plinth. The composition consists of two nude divers on the top, emanating from two hands, which themselves emanate from waters on top of the globe. However, a notable distinction is that the male diver in this version has one arm folded across his chest, and the other arm folded over his head as if he is going to perform a somersault. This is a unique distinction.
Artist: Peter Paul Ott • Year: 1998 • Medium: Bronze • Dimensions: 18 x 5.5 x 5.5 inches • Style/Genre: Classical (dark brown patina) • Unique work (one smaller replica given to DiBiasi).
Provenance/Story: The archive includes original documentation related to the creation and presentation of this version of the Sammy Lee Diving Award. This includes correspondence between Bruce Hopping and the artist, Peter Paul Ott, as well as legendary Olympic diver Klaus DiBiasi.
