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​1968 Olympian Ninja Jorgensen Passes Away

Picture
Picture
Ninja Jorgensen (third from left, back row) pictured with the 1967 U.S. Pan American Games Team one year before being selected to the 1968 U.S. Olympic Women's Volleyball Team.

  • USA VOLLEYBALL
  •  FEATURES
  •  1968 OLYMPIAN NINJA JORGENSEN PASSES AWAY

1968 Olympian Ninja Jorgensen Passes Away

BY BILL KAUFFMAN ([email protected]) | OCT. 05, 2017, 12:39 P.M. (ET)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 5, 2017) – USA Volleyball is saddened to learn of the passing of 1968 U.S. Olympian Ninja Jorgensen on Tuesday.

Jorgensen, the 2008 Flo Hyman All-Time Great Player recipient, enjoyed international and domestic success as a player. She competed on the U.S. Women’s National Team for nine years from 1965 until 1973. Jorgensen was a starting middle on the 1968 U.S. Women’s Olympic Team.
Jorgensen represented the USA at the 1967 and 1970 World Championships, and the 1967 and 1971 Pan American Games. She earned a silver medal at the 1967 World Championship in Tokyo, along with a gold medal at the 1967 Pan American Games.
Within USA Volleyball, Jorgensen played for the Long Beach Shamrocks, which won four consecutive national championships starting in 1967. She was a six-time Open Division All-American and a Senior All-American representing Alice Sanchez’s Mavericks. In 1963, Jorgensen was honored with the National Amateur Athletic Player of the Year.

Jorgensen’s path into volleyball started in 1960 as a student at Occidental College, and one year later she began teaching at Glendale High School. She also served as the school’s girls’ volleyball coach for 36 seasons before stepping down in 1998. Two years later she retired from her teaching post.
​
Following her playing career, Jorgensen worked as an NCAA official, a clinician and as a member of the Olympic Spirit Team. She served as Olympic Player representative from 1984 until 1988. In 2015, Jorgensen was named to the City Section Hall of Fame representing athletes from Los Angeles as part of the third year of inductees.
Times Community News  Glendale News-Press  Sports
Former Olympian, Glendale High volleyball coach Jorgensen passes away
Charles RichContact Reporter

Ninja Jorgensen, a former United States Olympic women’s volleyball player and Glendale High volleyball coach, died Tuesday, according to usavb.org. She was 77 and the cause of death wasn’t known.

Jorgensen, who was born July 6, 1940 in Los Angeles, had a distinguished national and international resume that included playing on the 1968 United States Olympics volleyball team. The United States finished eighth in the event in Mexico.

Jorgensen, who graduated from Los Angeles High in 1957 and attended Occidental College, coached girls’ volleyball at Glendale from 1962-98, She was also a physical education teacher at the school until she retired in early 2000.

“She was a remarkable person and she had quite a presence,” said Glendale co-athletic director Pat Lancaster, who was a colleague of Jorgensen’s for about 10 years. “She was a pioneer for girls’ sports and her influence was something else.”

Lancaster said Jorgensen was inspirational in building up girls’ sports, which included advancing their opportunities in sports by organizing athletic teams at Glendale and leagues for them to participate in.

She also coached swimming, basketball and badminton at Glendale.

The CIF Southern Section did not recognize girls' sports until 1973, when playoff competition began. Prior to that, girls' sport teams competed in local leagues.

Jorgensen competed for the United States at the 1967 and 1970 World Championships, in addition to the 1971 Pan American Games. Jorgensen was awarded a silver medal at the 1967 World Championships in Tokyo before earning a gold medal at the 1967 Pan American Games. She was a member of the U.S. national team from 1965-73.

Jorgensen was tabbed a National Amateur Athletic Player of the Year and a U.S. Volleyball Assn. All-American in 1963
Jorgensen served as an NCAA official after her playing career ended and was an Olympic Player representative from 1984-1988. Jorgensen was bestowed with Los Angeles City Section Hall of Fame recognition in 2015.
​
charles.rich@latimes.com


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  • Home
  • Experience
    • South Bay Spoilers
    • EPU - Houston
    • University of Houston
    • USA National Team
  • Flo Hyman History
    • What should you know! >
      • Items posted from friends/fans
      • Posthumously Awards
      • Houston Hall of Honor
      • Full Bio by Steven J. Niven
      • Marfan Syndrome
      • Visit Flo Hyman Statue
      • PLayers that Wear #7
    • Interviews on Flo Hyman >
      • Nomination Southern California Hall of Fame
      • Inducted Texas Sports Hall of Fame
      • 40 Year Celebration Sports Imports Celebration
      • Houston Chronicle 6/22/14
      • 1988 New York Times
      • 1986 Los Angeles Times Reports Death
      • Biomechanics on Flo Hyman
      • Women's Sports 1983
      • The Olympian 1984
      • Hyman in the MOVIE Order of Black Eagle >
        • Order of the Black Eagle
  • Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup
    • 2023 Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup
    • 2022 Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup
    • 2021 Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup
    • 2019 Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup
    • 2018 Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup
    • 2017 Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup
    • 2016 Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup
    • 2015 Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup
    • 2014 Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup
    • 2013 Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup
    • 2012 Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup
    • 2011 Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup
  • Tributes to Legends
    • Black History Recognition >
      • 2024 Black History ChatBOX - TSV
    • 60th anniversary 1964-1968 >
      • Photo Gallery 60th anniversary 1964-1968
    • Stephanie Schleuder >
      • Articles & Tributes SS
    • Pat McChesney
    • 1972 - Gabriella Kotsis - Hungry
    • 1964 Women First Olympic Team >
      • 1964 - Verneda Thomas
      • 1964 Mens Olympic Team
    • 1967 Women USA Team
    • 1968 USA Olympic Teams >
      • 1968 - Marilyn McReavy Nolen >
        • Articles and Tributes
      • 1968 - Ninja Jorgensen
      • 1968 - Fanny K. Hopeau
    • 1975 Pasadena, Texas First Olympic Training Center >
      • 1980 - Janet Baier
      • 1986 Women Sports Day
    • 1978 First Co-ed IVA
  • Links
    • AIAW, DGWS History Buffs
    • Sports Ill 1984
    • Minnesota Celebrates Flo Hyman Day
    • Girls of color and Title IX
  • Contact