[1] In the tryouts for the 1936 Summer Olympics for the United States team, she placed second behind Katherine Rawls in qualifying in the 3-meter springboard event.

[2] Gestring became the youngest person ever[nb 2] to win an Olympic gold medal at the age of 13 years and 268 days,[5] in what was considered to be an upset, given her competition.

[11] Despite the cancellation of the 1940 Summer Olympics due to the advent of World War II,[5] Gestring continued to compete at the national level within the United States.

[13] A fellow diver of the same era, Margaret Ambrosia, stated that she would have expected Gestring to win the gold medal once more had the 1940 Olympic Games been held as planned.

[19] Sports Illustrated listed Gestring when deciding California's Best Women Athlete, though it eventually named the tennis player Billie Jean King.