100 years ago today, American Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim across the English Channel. Called “The Queen of the Waves,” she was an Olympic gold medalist, and former world record-holder in 5 events for which she received a ticker-tape parade on her return from the games in Paris in 1924. In 1925, the Women's Swimming Association sponsored Helen Wainwright and Ederle in an attempt at swimming across the English Channel. Helen Wainwright cancelled due to an injury, but Ederle decided to try the crossing on her own. READ how it happened... (1926)
