old swimmers forgotten

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!

It's a great idea, Peter. Maybe you should become the Studs Terkel of swimming! Peter already is the Studs Terkel of swimming.

Thanks. Would like to read that one as well. As Trudy's niece Mary Ederle Ward co authored America's Girl, as you might imagine, it was not pitched that she died destitute. Rather it's claimed that she lived a full life and lived to the old age of 98. So who really knows? Author Dahlberg also focused on some other women who attempted the swim during the same summer. Agreed that Ederle did not fully capitalize on her fame. OK,that's it...I guess I'm done reading your posts just to get another look at your a(b)vatar. This new one is a bit off-putting. So ends an era. Maybe think about bringing back the electric green platform pumps?

It's a great idea, Peter. Maybe you should become the Studs Terkel of swimming!

I guess there are lots of books about Ederle lately. I just read one a few months ago called "The Great Swim" by Gavin Mortimer. Ederle was the focus, but Mortimer also spends a fair amount of time on the other ladies who made attempts that same summer. When Ederle completed her swim it was a huge story, yet sadly Ederle really wasn't able to capitalize on her new found fame all that well. I believe she died destitute. Thanks. Would like to read that one as well. As Trudy's niece Mary Ederle Ward co authored America's Girl, as you might imagine, it was not pitched that she died destitute. Rather it's claimed that she lived a full life and lived to the old age of 98. So who really knows? Author Dahlberg also focused on some other women who attempted the swim during the same summer. Agreed that Ederle did not fully capitalize on her fame.

I started a thread awhile back called 'The social history of swimming' which invited memories to be shared of experiences from previous eras of swimming. There is still many older swimmers out there with anecdotes to share; pure gold that could just disappear. Think of what a contentious era we are in right now with the tech suit stuff etc., which may be incomprehensible to future swimmers without the (prolific!) writings on the subject surviving. I am sure there were equally burning subjects 'back in the day'; these older swimmers aren't getting any younger and many of them are shy of the internet, so if any of you can elicit from them such memories, please share them.

Maybe think about bringing back the electric green platform pumps? I think creepy stuff like this is why shepuffnoodler keeps re-entering witness protection and assuming new identities.

OK,that's it...I guess I'm done reading your posts just to get another look at your a(b)vatar. This new one is a bit off-putting. So ends an era. Maybe think about bringing back the electric green platform pumps? Yes, I went more from a Fortress-ess avatar to a Paul Smith type avatar. But great idea - next shot will be a shoe shot! Oh, and I credit Kirk for this avatar. So thank him. :)