I read Jenny Thompson conparing herself to other famous swimmers and track people. She forgot to include Shirley Babashoff, another swimmer who won 8 medals in two olympics, Probably to many swimmers today Babashoff and most swimmers prior to 1980 are not known to them. I guess that most of the 1950's swimmers and some of the early 1960's swimmers are not known to me either. But she did mention Mary T Meagher and Tracey Caulkins that came in the generation after Shirley. Oh,well. Maybe, many of us in masters might look up information on the olympics in swimming prior to 1968. And the master swimmers that are younger need to learn about those those olympic swimmers prior to 1984.
I guess I'm a *younger* masters swimmer at 37 but I just finished the book America's Girl: The Incredible Story of How Swimmer Gertrude Ederle Changed the Nation. That is one tough cookie! In 1926 she was the first woman to make it across the English Channel AND she also broke the men's record. She overcame everything from incompetent coaches; a failed first attempt; the tough seas, cold waters, sharks and weather conditions; leaky goggles; terrible swim suit issues; gender discrimination; and she was almost deaf to boot! No need for me to be reminded to never whine about anything that goes on during swim practice. Sheesh!!! I need to HTFU!
I understand she actually invented the 2 piece suit by ripping the middle out of her suit because it chafed too much.
I guess I'm a *younger* masters swimmer at 37 but I just finished the book America's Girl: The Incredible Story of How Swimmer Gertrude Ederle Changed the Nation. That is one tough cookie! In 1926 she was the first woman to make it across the English Channel AND she also broke the men's record. She overcame everything from incompetent coaches; a failed first attempt; the tough seas, cold waters, sharks and weather conditions; leaky goggles; terrible swim suit issues; gender discrimination; and she was almost deaf to boot! No need for me to be reminded to never whine about anything that goes on during swim practice. Sheesh!!! I need to HTFU!
I understand she actually invented the 2 piece suit by ripping the middle out of her suit because it chafed too much.
