100 years since Gertrude Ederle's historic swim across the English Channel
On August 6, 1926, 19 year old American Gertrude Ederle, the competitive and Olympic swimmer, became the first woman to swim across the English Channel, beating the times of the five men who attempted the challenge before her.
Swimmer Gertrude Ederle is pictured at a beach on Long Island, N.Y., in 1923. (AP Photo)
Gertrude Ederle, the famous American swimming champion, in Brighton, UK, July 1925, in training for her attempt to swim the English Channel. Ederle is shown with Jabez Wolffe, the famous Channel swimmer, who is coaching Ederle, showing her the route. (AP Photo)
AMERICAN GIRL BREAKS RECORD MADE BY MEN
Gertrude Ederle, "A Proud Woman," After Swimming English Channel, Walks Happily Ashore Along the Beach at Kingsdown
By Associated Press
Dover, England - The English channel has been conquered by Gertrude Ederle, the 19 year old American girl swimmer.
Old Neptune, after numerous previous refusals, including Miss Ederle, herself, at last lifted his three-pronged spear and permitted a woman to swim across the turbulent waterway dividing England from France. And, as if in a most deferential mood, he accorded the former American and Olympic champion such generally favorable conditions that she accomplished it in shorter time than any of the five men who were able to make the arduous journey, from 1872 to 1923.
Gertrude Ederle, the famous American swimming champion, in Brighton, UK, July 1925, in training for her attempt to swim the English Channel. (AP Photo)
SPLENDID CONDITIONS
Starting from Cape Gris Nez, France, at 7:09 o'clock, yesterday morning, under splendid weather and tidal conditions, the New York girl churned the waters of the channel almost continuously with her strong over hand stroke and the crawl kick that brought her fame as an amateur natator, until 9:40 o'clock Friday evening. Then she touched bottom at Kingsdown between Dover and Deal and walked happily ashore under the glare of huge bonfires, amid the acclaim of crowds of spectators.
Swimmer Gertrude Ederle, is seen in New York, June 2, 1926, enroute to her second attempt to swim the English Channel. (AP Photo)
She had brought ashore with her a new record of 14 hours, 31 minutes for the swim, and was pleased with her achievement.
"I'm a proud woman," she declared simply.
Excerpt from the Associated Press article “American Girl Breaks Record Made By Men”, August 7, 1926.
Nineteen-year-old Gertrude Ederle of New York City becomes the first woman to swim the English Channel on August 6, 1926, as she crosses the waterway in 14 hours and 31 minutes. (AP Photo)
Gertrude Ederle, champion swimmer, is being cheered by crowds in Stuttgart, Germany, August 20, 1926. (AP Photo)
Gertrude Ederle, of English Channel swimming fame, is seen in New York, May 24, 1935. Laid up for a year with a back injury, she studied fashion design, and is now an advisor for a New York shop. (AP Photo/Ed Ford)
The "years after" have brought quiet and domesticity to Gertrude Ederle, first woman to swim the English Channel. Here in her room filled with mementos of her achievement, she is now writing a book, in New York, NY, May 25, 1936. (AP Photo/John Lindsay)
Swimmer Gertrude Ederle poses on steps at the Aquacade at the New York World's Fair, on August 6, 1939. (AP Photo/Tom Fitzsimmons)
Gertrude Ederle, center, is seen with her family, in New York, NY, August 8, 1936, on the 10th anniversary of her English Channel swim. From left are, her father Pop Ederle, Gertrude, Mrs. Ederle and Margaret Ederle, in back. (AP Photo)
Gertrude Ederle, seen in her Flushing, NY, home, August 3, 1951. She is holding up a newspaper from 25 years ago when she became the first woman to swim the English Channel, which was on August 6, 1926. Now 44, Miss Ederle says, "I still have a lot of respect for that old body of water, what a toughie she is!" (AP Photo/John Lent)
Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to swim the English Channel, herself deaf, teaches a class of deaf children to swim, April 17, 1958, in New York, NY. (AP Photo/Robert Kradin)
Gertrude Ederle, the first woman ever to swim across the English Channel, stands over a cake during a testimonial luncheon in the Flushing section of New, York, NY, Aug. 3 1976, to mark the 50th anniversary of her epic swim. Miss Ederle has been a Flushing, Queens resident for more than 35 years. (AP Photo/Dave Pickoff)
Photo curation by Kathryn Bubien