Born in Manhattan
October 23 · Upper West Side, NYC
Gertrude Caroline Ederle, third child of Henry and Gertrud Ederle, German immigrants from Bissingen.
The major waypoints of a ninety-eight-year life — from a birth in Manhattan to a final day in New Jersey, with one day in August 1926 in the middle that changes everything.
Gertrude Caroline Ederle, third child of Henry and Gertrud Ederle, German immigrants from Bissingen.
At age seven, Trudy falls into the Atlantic. Her father then teaches her to swim — by rope, off the dock.
At thirteen, she joins the Women's Swimming Association of New York. Charlotte Epstein and Louis Handley become her coaches.
At sixteen she sets her first world record. By nineteen there will be twenty-nine.
One gold with the American 4×100 m freestyle relay. Two bronze in the 100 m and 400 m freestyle.
After 8 hours 46 minutes the attempt is broken off due to a misunderstanding by her trainer. Trudy is furious.
First woman to swim the Channel. 14 hours, 34 minutes — almost two hours under the men's record. Three weeks later: a ticker-tape parade in NYC, ~2 million spectators.
The weight of public attention takes its toll. Trudy retreats from the spotlight.
She falls down a staircase at home. Doctors say she will not walk again. She wears a corset for four years.
She swims at the opening. No records — only a statement that she is back.
By now largely deaf herself, Trudy begins teaching deaf children to swim. She will continue this for decades.
Inducted as one of the first American women swimmers to be honoured.
Trudy lived to 98. Movement shaped her life — as performance, as posture, and later as knowledge she passed on to others. This is exactly where this Foundation begins.