Gertrude Ederle's 1926 English Channel Record Marks 100th Anniversary

Gertrude "Trudy" Ederle was born in 1905 in Manhattan to German‑immigrant parents. After nearly drowning at age seven, she took up swimming, joining the Women’s Swimming Association at twelve. By her teens she held multiple U.S. and world records and won three medals – a gold in the 4 × 100 m freestyle relay and two bronzes – at the 1924 Paris Olympics.

In August 1926, at age 20, Ederle attempted the English Channel. After a failed first try in 1925, she switched coaches from Jabez Wolffe to former Channel‑crossing champion Bill Burgess. Starting from France’s Gris‑Nez, she swam to England’s Kingstown in 14 hours 39 minutes, beating the existing men’s record and becoming the first woman to complete the crossing. The achievement is commemorated on its 100th anniversary on 6 August 2026.