Trudy
Gertrude Ederle joined the Women’s Swimming Association in 1917 at age 12, and immediately set a world record in the 880 freestyle. As an amateur swimmer, she set 29 US national and world records. Swimming professionally in 1926, the nineteen year old became the first woman to swim the English Channel. She competed the swim in 14 hours and 34 minutes, beating the times of the five men who preceded her. This record was held until 1950. She was rendered almost completely deaf by the age of 35, as a result of childhood measles. Doctors warned that swimming would speed the progression of her hearing loss, but she loved the water too much to leave it. She spent much of her adult life teaching deaf children to swim.
Trudy is approximately 14” tall. She is constructed of recycled wool and denim. She wears a cashmere sweater and vintage handkerchief culottes.
Gertrude Ederle joined the Women’s Swimming Association in 1917 at age 12, and immediately set a world record in the 880 freestyle. As an amateur swimmer, she set 29 US national and world records. Swimming professionally in 1926, the nineteen year old became the first woman to swim the English Channel. She competed the swim in 14 hours and 34 minutes, beating the times of the five men who preceded her. This record was held until 1950. She was rendered almost completely deaf by the age of 35, as a result of childhood measles. Doctors warned that swimming would speed the progression of her hearing loss, but she loved the water too much to leave it. She spent much of her adult life teaching deaf children to swim.
Trudy is approximately 14” tall. She is constructed of recycled wool and denim. She wears a cashmere sweater and vintage handkerchief culottes.
Gertrude Ederle joined the Women’s Swimming Association in 1917 at age 12, and immediately set a world record in the 880 freestyle. As an amateur swimmer, she set 29 US national and world records. Swimming professionally in 1926, the nineteen year old became the first woman to swim the English Channel. She competed the swim in 14 hours and 34 minutes, beating the times of the five men who preceded her. This record was held until 1950. She was rendered almost completely deaf by the age of 35, as a result of childhood measles. Doctors warned that swimming would speed the progression of her hearing loss, but she loved the water too much to leave it. She spent much of her adult life teaching deaf children to swim.
Trudy is approximately 14” tall. She is constructed of recycled wool and denim. She wears a cashmere sweater and vintage handkerchief culottes.