ederle, gertrude

On the morning of August 6, 1926, Gertrude Ederle stood in her bathing suit on the beach of Cape Gris-Nez, France, and faced the churning waves of the English Channel. Twenty-one miles across the perilous waterway, the English coastline beckoned. If Trudy reached it successfully, she would be the first female swimmer, and only the sixth person ever, to do so.

"Describes the origins of women's competitive swimming in the United States, covering many obstacles to safe swimming opportunities, including restrictive beliefs about physical abilities, access to safe clean water, bathing suits that did not allow for movement, and opposition from official sporting organizations"--Provided by publisher.

Chronicles the life and times of the first woman to swim across the English Channel, exploring her early accomplishments as a competitive swimmer, gold-medal triumph at the 1924 Olympics, and the gender barriers she overcame.

Describes the life and accomplishments of Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to swim the English Channel and a figure in the early women's rights movement.

Describes the life and accomplishments of Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to swim the English Channel and a figure in the early women's rights movement.