The name of mercedes gleitze was used to market rolexs new waterproof case, the oyster. Pat gallantcharette becomes oldest woman to cross english. American swimmer gertrude ederle achieved fame when she competed in the 1924 olympics and became the first woman to swim across the english channel in. Florence may chadwick november 9, 1918 march 15, 1995 was an american swimmer known for longdistance open water swimming. This is a list of notable successful swims across the english channel.
This was a terrific book about trudy ederle, the first woman to swim the english channel. Among other nicknames, the press sometimes called her queen of the waves. Gertrude ederle becomes first woman to swim english channel. Americas champion swimmer, gertrude ederle is a picture book for k4. You need not care one whit about swimming, women breaking sports barriers or events of the 1920s to be gripped by sportswriter glenn stouts fastpaced account of how, in 1926, a partially deaf. This book has appeal well beyond the world of swimming. Tragic end for the british hero who was first to swim the. Recently, officials have outlawed swimming in the english channel. The feat so thrilled america that it welcomed her home with a ticker tape parade that drew two million people. These 6 books about women athletes will get your heart pumping. By 1926, only five men had ever conquered the english channel, and the race to become the first woman to swim the channel captivated two continents. Shirley may france, who as a young woman tried to swim the.
The fastest time was achieved by bulgarian swimmer peter stoychev in 2007, who managed it in 7 hours. Americas girl is an intimate look at the life and trials of gertrude ederle, who in 1926 not only became the first woman to swim across the english channel, but broke the record set by men. List of successful english channel swimmers wikipedia. English channel simple english wikipedia, the free. The first woman to brave the english channel when gertrude ederle swam the notorious strait in 1926, she beat the times of all the men before her. He died trying to swim the whirlpool rapids below niagara falls, a feat declared impossible. Captain matthew webb 19 january 1848 24 july 1883 was the first recorded person to swim the english channel for sport without the use of artificial aids. She established endurance records for swimming including a record of 46 hours in. Gertrude ederle, in full gertrude caroline ederle, born october 23, 1905, new york, new york, u. An excellent, pageturning account of the race to become the first woman to swim the english channel. Gertrude ederle, who was called americas best girl by president calvin coolidge in 1926 after she became the first woman to swim across the english channel, died yesterday at a. Gertrude ederle was the first woman to swim the english channel, finishing faster than any of the five men who had done it before. First woman to swim the english channel crossword clue. Who was the first woman to swim across the english channel.
A picture book biography of gertrude ederle that focuses on her successful swim across the english channel in 1926. But last year i saw wyatt swim in antarctica and when i swam the english channel i was inspired by a couple of books about swimming in antarctica. Gertrude ederle, the first woman to swim across the. Ms thomas was pushed back by strong tides on the final leg but finished at about 6. Gertrude ederle was the first woman to swim across the english channel. This is an interesting picture book biography of the first woman to swim the english channel, with a record time. The following recommended poetry, biography, and fiction books for kids will inspire boys and girls alike to dream and dare. Gertrude ederle, a 20yearold american swimming sensation, not only became the first woman to swim the english channel, but.
It was a selection for my book group, nominated by a former teacher of. First woman to swim the english channel american teenager gertrude ederle completes france to dover swim in a record time of under 15 hours. We have 1 answer for the clue first woman to swim the english channel. Florence chadwick was the first woman to swim both ways across the english channel. New york gertrude ederle, who was the toast of america and europe in 1926 when she became the first woman to swim the english channel, died yesterday. To be eligible, you must first complete a 10hour swim in 60degree water. What its really like to swim the english channel telegraph. Media caption sarah thomas began her challenge on sunday. October 23, 1906 november 30, 2003 was an american competition swimmer, olympic champion, and former world recordholder in five events. She arrived in dover this morning after more than 54 hours in the water. When the tide pulls youve got to swim the channel no.
In 1926, when 19yearold gertrude ederle snatched the world record for swimming the english channel, it was a triumph for the womens rights movement. On 6 august 1926, she became the first woman to swim across the english channel. In a roaring decade in which americans cheered daredevils, few were as celebrated as ms. Find more books about womens history in our book finder. To swim the channel, you must first register with the channel swimming association, located in folkestone, england. On this day in 1926, on her second attempt, 19yearold gertrude ederle becomes the first woman to swim the 21 miles from dover, england, to cape griznez across the english channel, which. Her father tied a rope around her waist, put her in a lake, and told her to swim like a dog. She was an american competition swimmer, olympic champion, and former world recordholder in five events. In 1926, before skirt lengths inched above the knee and before anyone was ready to accept that a woman could test herself physically, a plucky american teenager named trudy ederle captured the imagination of the world when she became the first woman to swim the english channel. Gertrude, who swam the english channel on august 6, 1926.
The first woman to swim the english channel beat the mens. From the beginning, she obviously had a natural aptitude for swimming, and also a lot of determination and ambition. Author glenn stout does a masterful job of telling the story of trudy ederle, the first woman to swim the 21mile english channel. What its really like to swim the english channel matt townsend caught the wildswimming bug in 2012. This brought him great celebrity, and he performed many stunts in public. Gertrude ederle was the first woman to swim the english channel. Smart news keeping you current american woman becomes first person to swim english channel four times, nonstop sarah thomas took 54 hours to cross from england to france and back again twice, just. Gertrude ederle is in the water on a mission to be the first woman to swim the english channel. While i helped my daughter research ederles life, the scope of this womans. In 1926, 18yearold trudy ederle fascinated and inspired millions around the world when she became the first woman successfully to swim the english channel.
On august 6, 1926, 19yearold gertrude ederle became the first woman to swim the 21 miles across the english channel in 14 hours and 31. She intended to swim the channel from the island to the california coast. First woman to swim the english channel in both directions. Womens history month celebrates the accomplishments of women like amelia earhart, rosa parks, and eleanor roosevelt. In 2004, over 600 people were recorded making the crossing. She was the first woman to swim across the channel, and when she completed the feat she beat all the previous male swimmers times. Americas champion swimmer meet your next favorite book. Argentinean antonio abertondo was the first male to swim the channel in both directions without stopping in 1961. It is a beautiful tale about trudy and how she was the first woman to swim the english channel. In 1926 she swam from france to england in 14 hours and 39 minutes. Shirley may france first tried to swim the english channel at 17. France to england, united states, gertrude ederle, 1926, 14. On august 6, 1926, she became the first woman to swim across the english channel. It was a fogshrouded morning, july 4, 1952, when a young woman named florence chadwick waded into the water off catalina island.
Rees becomes first deaf athlete to swim the english channel. And not only did she succeed but chadwick ended up making the swim an additional two times. In 20, only her husband, tom, knew that zemlin took a course in longdistance swimming off catalina island in california. Additionally, you must complete the task in the allowed direction. Fanny durack of australia became the first female to win a gold medal in the 100yard freestyle race that year. American woman becomes first person to swim english. This book tells the story of how she learned how to swim because she almost drowned. Gertrude ederle, the first woman to swim the channel, sets off on 6 august 1926 from cap griz nez, france. The first woman to brave the english channel outside online. Gavin mortimer is the author of the great swim short books, 2008. American woman sarah thomas, 37, becomes first person to. She was also the first woman to swim the catalina channel, the straits of gibraltar, the bosporus one way, and the dardanelles round trip. Who was the first person to swim the english channel. The first woman to swim the english channel was american gertrude ederle.
Pat gallantcharette becomes oldest woman to cross english channel at 66, pat gallantcharette became the oldest woman to swim across the english channel o saturday. American woman sarah thomas has become the first person to swim the english channel four times in a row. Gertrude ederle, first woman to swim english channel. The 48 year old became the first deaf person to complete a solo english channel swim, achieving the feat in 15 hours. Ederle held onto her title of fastest english channel swim until 1951, when a woman named winnie roachleuszlerthe first canadian to swim the channelbeat her by about an hour. Only two years later, inspired by his octogenarian neighbour who had swum the channel in. For good measure, chadwick also became the first woman to. Youre closer than you think a story about long distance. To this day braving the perilous 21mile stretch of sea is still. Throughout the story readers get waves of her background as a recordbreaking swimming sensation, but mostly we follow the details of the more than 21mile journey. It was, and still is, a feat more incredible and uncommon than scaling mount everest. The former olympic gold medallist crossed the channel on august 6, 1926 in just 14 hours and 39 minutes. Mercedes gleitze or mercedes carey 18 november 1900 9 february 1981 was a british professional swimmer. Gertrude ederle, a brilliant young swimmer, was the 19yearold.
Writing for history extra, gavin mortimer shares the remarkable story of ederles swim and how she inspired a generation of sporting women. Ederle, who was 20 when she made her historic swim on aug. When he became the first person to swim the english channel, captain matthew webb secured his place in the history books. At the time, she was the first woman to swim the channel. Stout points out that fewer people today have climbed mount everest than have swum the english channel. For good measure, chadwick also became the first woman to swim the english channel in both directions. This fascinating portrait follows ederle from her early days as a competitive swimmer through. A woman who was treated for breast cancer a year ago has become the first person to.