Gertrude Ederle made history on August 6, 1926, when she became the first woman to swim across the English Channel. At just 20 years old, she entered the water at Cap Gris-Nez, France, and swam for over 14 hours before reaching Kingsdown, Kent.
Early Start in Manhattan
Born in New York City in 1905, Ederle began swimming at a young age and joined the Women’s Swimming Association at 12. By 1924, she had competed in the Paris Olympics, winning one gold and two bronze medals. She turned professional in 1925.
Training, Setbacks, and Return
Her first attempt at the Channel in 1925 ended in disqualification. Undeterred, she returned a year later under coach Bill Burgess. Her successful crossing broke the previous record by nearly two hours. She was welcomed in New York by a ticker-tape parade attended by over two million people.
A Life Beyond the Channel
Ederle later performed in vaudeville and gave swimming lessons to deaf children. She died in 2003 at the age of 98.
On August 6, 1926, Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim across the English Channel, defying expectations with a record-breaking 14-hour, 34-minute swim.
The achievement stunned the world and earned her a hero's welcome with a ticker-tape parade in New York…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/V97AI5x7lN
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) May 11, 2025