Gertrude Ederle

GERTRUDE EDERLE

In June 1925, Gertrude Ederle, a nineteen-year-old New Yorker tried to swim from France to England. Only five people had done it before, they were all men. When she got exhausted six and half miles from the English coast, her helpers had to pull out of the sea. She failed, and people said that a woman could never swim long distances, that they are inferior atheltes, and that women's sports were a waste of time. But just one year later, Gertrude tried again. She had more troubles than the last time but she completed the 35 miles in a record time of 14 hours and 31 minutes. When she returned to the USA, 2 million people were on the streets to welcome her. She was a true heroine.