Gertrude Caroline Ederle

Gertrude Caroline Ederle (October 23, 1905 – November 30, 2003) was the first woman to swim the English Channel.

Early life

Ederle’s birthdate was October 23, 1905. Her family came from Germany to New York. Her mother taught her to swim. Ederle decided she wanted to be a swimmer.

English Channel

Ederle had the world's quickest time for women in swimming. She swam across the English Channel, which is 21 miles long. She swam in a record time of 14 hours and 39 minutes. It was a world record for 35 years. She was the 6th person to swim across the English Channel and the first woman to do so.

Olympics

Ederle was a swimmer in the Olympics. She won one gold medal and two bronze medals in the 1924 summer Olympics.

Support for Women's swimming

Ederle believed that women could be talented swimmers. She helped the Women’s Swimming Association. She was also famous for her bravery by being the first woman to swim the English Channel.