Gertrude Ederle

Gertrude Caroline “Trudy” Ederle was born in New York City on 23 October 1905. A member of the Women’s Swimming Association, she developed into a leading freestyle swimmer before turning to long-distance challenges. At the 1924 Paris Olympics she won gold in the 4 × 100 metres freestyle relay and bronze in both the 100 and 400 metres freestyle. Her bronze in the 400 metres came in 6 minutes 4.8 seconds, behind her American teammates Martha Norelius and Helen Wainwright. She had already set long-course world records in the 400 metres in 1922 and the 200 metres in 1923.

On Friday 6 August 1926 Ederle became the first woman to swim the English Channel. She swam front crawl from Cap Gris-Nez to Kingsdown and beat the previous fastest crossing by a man. Her registered time is 14 hours 39 minutes.

The detailed Dover crossing log gives 07:05 at Cap Gris-Nez and 21:44 at Kingsdown. A second historical register gives 06:09 and 20:48. Both clock pairs span 14 hours 39 minutes, and neither entry names its time standard. Dover Museum gives 14 hours 34 minutes in Between Wars and 14 hours 33 minutes in Records & Firsts. The log lists Joe Costa with Thomas Burgess aboard Alsace, accompanied by the press tug La Morinie. It records retrospective recognition on 16 August 1928.

On 27 August 1926, she returned to New York aboard the Berengaria and was welcomed with a ticker-tape parade. City records preserve the reception committee’s minutes, letters and photographs, including her reception aboard the municipal steamer Macom. The welcome carried her sporting achievement into the city’s civic history.

Later in life, she taught swimming to deaf children, extending her contribution to swimming beyond her competitive achievements.

The recorded nationality is United States.

Gertrude Ederle's published record includes performances from 1922 to 1926 in Swimming — 400 m freestyle (50 m pool), Open-water swimming — English Channel solo, Swimming — 200 m freestyle (50 m pool), Swimming — 400 m freestyle final. Selected recorded events include Long-course 400 m freestyle world record (1922; source checked); English Channel crossing (1926; source checked); Long-course 200 m freestyle world record (1923; source checked).

Source-checked results include 3rd overall over Swimming — 100 m freestyle final at Paris 1924 Olympic Games (1924-07-20).

Source-checked results include 3rd overall over Swimming — 400 m freestyle final at Paris 1924 Olympic Games (1924-07-15).