Gertrude Ederle Quotes

A collection of quotes by Gertrude Ederle.

Gertrude Ederle was born on October 23, 1905, in New York City, USA. She grew up in a family of swimming enthusiasts and began swimming at a young age. Ederle's talent quickly became apparent, and she started to excel in various swimming competitions. In 1924, at the age of 18, she participated in her first Olympic games, winning a gold medal as a member of the U.S. women's 4x100-meter freestyle relay team and two bronze medals in individual events.

Ederle's real claim to fame, however, came in 1926 when she achieved an incredible feat by becoming the first woman to swim across the English Channel. On August 6th of that year, she embarked on the challenging 21-mile swim from France to England. Ederle fought against strong tides, treacherous currents, inclement weather, and exhaustion. With her unwavering determination, she completed the swim in 14 hours and 31 minutes, shattering the previous men's record by more than two hours.

This remarkable achievement garnered Ederle worldwide recognition and made her an international sporting icon. She became an inspiration to women around the globe, illustrating their capabilities and potential in the sporting arena. Following her historic Channel swim, Ederle retired from competitive swimming and went on to teach swimming to deaf children. She also occasionally worked as a vaudeville performer, and later in life suffered from health issues related to hearing loss. Gertrude Ederle passed away on November 30, 2003, leaving behind a legacy of courage, determination, and trailblazing achievements in the world of swimming.