A pioneering American swimmer named Gertrude Ederle made history when she became the first woman to swim across the English Channel. Her accomplishment in 1926 was a turning point in women's athletics and served as motivation for a generation of female athletes. People are still motivated by Ederle's legacy as a champion of women's sports today. Ederle was born in New York City in 1905 and started swimming at a young age. She became a gifted athlete very rapidly, and by the time she was 16, she had already won her first national title. She kept improving as a swimmer, and in 1924, she took part in the Paris Olympics where she took home a gold award and two bronze medals. But what really made Ederle famous was her unprecedented swim across the English Channel. She began her journey from Cape Gris-Nez, France, on August 6, 1926, with the intention of swimming to Kingsdown, England. Ederle knew the 35-mile …show more content…
Her success helped to shift cultural attitudes towards women's physical capabilities and athleticism. She demonstrated that female athletes could perform amazing feats of power and endurance on par with male athletes. The effect of Ederle's legacy as a pioneering athlete and supporter of women's sports on American society and the athletic community worldwide is still being felt today. Her achievement contributed to opening up opportunities for upcoming generations of female athletes to succeed and be recognized. Young women everywhere looked up to her as a role model, and she motivated them to follow their interests and smash stereotypes. In addition to her influence on women's athletics, Ederle was hailed as a symbol of patriotism and national pride. Her triumph in the English Channel swim was viewed as a representation of American tenacity and fortitude. She was generally hailed as a hero, and many Americans were motivated by her