Unveiling the Splash: Top 13 Fun Facts About Gertrude Ederle, the Swimming Legend

1. Aquatic Superhero

Once upon a swim, in a world filled with waterlogged ears, a real-life aquatic superhero swam into the hearts of many: Gertrude Ederle not only set records in swimming but also dedicated herself to teaching deaf children how to swim, overcoming her own partial deafness caused by water damage and proving herself to be a true champion both in and out of the water.
Source => amhistory.si.edu

2. Channeling Her Inner Mermaid

In a stroke of genius that left men in her wake, Gertrude Ederle kicked off her 1926 calendar by 'channeling' her inner mermaid and leaving a splash-tastic mark of aquatic history: Ederle shattered the men's record by two hours to become the first woman to swim across the English Channel, outswimming the five men who had previously achieved this challenging feat.
Source => pbs.org

Did you know Althea Gibson excelled in not just one, but two sports? Discover how this trailblazer made history in both tennis and golf! 🎾⛳️

=> Fun Facts about Althea-Gibson

3. Who Needs Bridges?

Who needs bridges when you've got Gertrude?: On August 6, 1926, Gertrude Ederle made a giant splash by becoming the first woman to conquer the English Channel, briskly swimming her way to glory and leaving the men's previous record in her wake by a whopping two hours.
Source => history.com

4. Neptune's Moat Conqueror

"Channeling" her inner mermaid and trouncing the men in the process, Gertrude Ederle swashbuckled her way through Neptune's moat: In 1926, Ederle became the first woman to swim the English Channel, setting a new world record of 14 hours and 39 minutes, beating the-men's record by two hours, and inspiring countless women to acquire Red Cross swimming certificates.
Source => unladylike2020.com

5. Speedo-less Triumph

Forgive her for doing it without the confidence of a speedo-clad lifeguard by her side, but when Gertrude Ederle dared to outswim those pesky gents, she certainly made a splash: In 1926, this tenacious mermaid became the first woman to triumph over the English Channel, paddling her way through a treacherous 35 miles in a record-shattering 14 and a half hours.
Source => history.com

6. Queen of the Waves, not Babe

Wave hello to the Queen, darling – just don't call her Babe: Contrary to what one might think, Gertrude Ederle's nickname after her record-breaking English Channel swim was "Queen of the Waves" and not "America's First Babe", as she was celebrated for her impressive swimming prowess rather than any cheeky moniker.
Source => sheroesofhistory.wordpress.com

7. Defying Tech with Butterfly Stroke

Who needs a GPS when you're Gertrude "Trudy" Ederle, defying both the English Channel and Apple Maps with her trusty butterfly stroke and an unerring sense of direction? That's right, folks: On August 6, 1926, Ederle became the fastest swimmer of either sex to swim across the English Channel, doing so in just 14 hours and 31 minutes. Not only did she beat the previous male-held record by nearly two hours, but due to unruly waters and tricky tides, our aquatic heroine ended up navigating a 35-mile marathon instead of the customary 21-mile jaunt. How's that for making waves?
Source => nytimes.com

8. One-woman Ferry Service

Who needs boats when you've got Gertrude Ederle, the one-woman ferry service, powering through the waves: In 1926, she became the first woman to swim across the English Channel, smashing the men's record with her phenomenal 14 hours and 33 minutes swim, and paving the way for female athletes worldwide. After waving goodbye to the water, she moved to a house on Stadium Avenue in The Bronx, and when she finally hung up her goggles in 2003, she was laid to rest among other notable Americans in the historic Woodlawn Cemetery.
Source => welcome2thebronx.com

9. Gerty: Aquatic Trailblazer

Who would have thought that an aquatic trailblazer named Gerty could cause a massive splash, brilliantly shifting the tides for women everywhere? No, we're not talking about a new mermaid comic hero: Gertrude Ederle's achievement inspired many women to pursue swimming as a sport and have their own breakthroughs.
Source => amhistory.si.edu

10. Zorro of the Sea

Call her Zorro of the sea, slicing through the English Channel's waves with deft strokes: Gertrude Ederle went off course, swam an extra two miles thanks to uncooperative currents, but still managed to shatter the men's record by two hours and secure her place as the first woman to swim from Dover to Cape Griz-Nez.
Source => history.com

11. Michael Phelps of the Roaring Twenties

Gertrude Ederle, the Michael Phelps of the roaring twenties, had a swimming hack more stylish than a vintage swimsuit and more practical than a waterproof top hat for teatime: Ederle swam across the English Channel using her own version of the Australian crawl, dubbed the American crawl, and even customized a pair of motorcycle goggles to keep the saltwater at bay. The evolution of women's swimwear also played a role in her success, as she sported a lightweight, streamlined swimsuit designed to reduce drag while remaining fashionably "decent" for the time.
Source => legallegacy.wordpress.com

12. Faster than Aquaman

Swimming along faster than Aquaman on a coffee break: Gertrude Ederle whipped up a splash, setting 29 world records in women's freestyle, including a daring aquatic marathon from New York to New Jersey that she conquered in just 7 hours and 11 minutes, leaving her record high and dry for over 80 years.
Source => pbs.org

13. Swim, Girl, Swim Cameo

Before "Baywatch" could showcase her front crawl or Hollywood could savor her backstroke, Gertrude Ederle made a splash of her own in the cinema scene: In the 1927 silent film Swim, Girl, Swim, the first woman to conquer the English Channel made a brief cameo as herself, but despite this brush with fame, a career in showbiz never propelled her to stardom.
Source => movieweb.com