Four-time Olympic diving coach Hobie Billingsley was recently diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease that “causes weakness in the skeletal muscles which are responsible for breathing and moving parts of the body, including arms and legs.” This condition has made him unable to eat or drink anything and so he currently has a feeding tube.
The medication that Billingsley is currently receiving will keep him in the hospital through the weekend, at which point he will likely move to a rehab facility, according to a Facebook post by his daughter Elizabeth Billingsley Bender. She noted that despite his condition, he has retained his sense of humor and continues to bring smiles to those around him.
At Indiana for 30 years, he led his divers to more than 100 national titles. He, too, was a national and NCAA champion and later became a four-time Olympic coach representing three different countries, a comedy diver, an author and speaker, founder of the American and World Diving Coaches Association, and was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1983.
Swimming World will keep the aquatic community informed with any changes in his condition. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Billingsley and his family during this time.
Prayers for Coach and his family and loved ones.
Hobie you have been brave and kind all your life. You are a fighter. You will overcome this “splash” dive into the current difficulties with a perfect 10 score. Do not give up. It has been always wonderful meeting you at ISHOF inductions. I send you my best wishes for fast and complete recovery from Greece.