Michael Galitzen only used that name early in his career, preferring his nickname of Mickey Riley. He competed in four Olympic diving events and won a medal in each. While at Southern Cal he was twice the NCAA springboard champion and indoors and outdoors won a total of 10 AAU titles. Like his brother, John, also an AAU diving champion, Mickey competed for the Los Angeles AC. He often performed synchronized diving with his brother. He worked as a film editor in the movie business and later gave diving comedy routines at swim meets. In 1959, Galitzen was found dead in his apartment, but the cause of death was established as natural causes. In 1977 he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.