Gertrude Ederle: The true story of the first woman to swim the English Channel

The biographical film ‘Young Woman and the Sea’, directed by Joachim Rønning, depicts the historic achievement of Gertrude ‘Trudy’ Ederle, the first woman to swim across the English Channel. Set in the early 20th century, the story follows Ederle from her childhood in a German immigrant family in New York to her rise as an elite swimmer.

After overcoming health challenges from measles that affected her hearing, Ederle’s talent led her to the Women's Swimming Association and eventually to the 1924 Paris Olympics, where she won gold and bronze medals. The film focuses on her 1926 attempt to cross the Channel, a feat previously accomplished only by men, as she battles freezing waters and societal prejudices regarding women in competitive sports. Daisy Ridley stars as Ederle, supported by a cast including Tilda Cobham-Hervey and Christopher Eccleston.