Passages: Olympic Pool Champion and Open Water Queen Greta Andersen Dies At 96

Greta Anderson 2

On February 6, 2023, the world of swimming lost a long-time ambassador in 96-year-old Greta Andersen. One of the greatest swimmers of all time, Andersen burst onto the world’s stage when she won the gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle at the 1948 London Olympics. When she returned home to Copenhagen Denmark, she was a national hero.

After moving from her native Denmark to Long Beach, California, in 1953, she found she needed to make a living. She met Tom Park, a record-setting Catalina Channel swimmer, who convinced her she had what it took to be a successful marathon swimmer.

Greta Anderson 3

Photo Courtesy: ISHOF

In 1956, Andersen won the first of seven Around Atlantic City Marathons swims. She then won the 50-mile Lake Michigan race from Chicago to Kenosha, Wisconsin. Andersen finished 10 miles ahead of her nearest competitor and captured the $25,000 first place prize money. The next year, she entered her first Sir Billy Butlin Cross English Channel Marathon race. She won again in 1958 and after her third swim, in 1959, Sir Billy gave her the perpetual trophy.

During her career, Andersen broke 18 world marathon records. She was the first woman to complete five crossings of the English Channel – set speed records in both directions – and was the first person to swim the Santa Catalina Channel both ways … nonstop, a feat that took almost 27 hours. She earned first, second, or third place in every event, competing with men head-to-head, and never lost to another woman. She was the largest money winner in women’s professional swimming history.

Confident, personable, and talented, she made quite a splash on the pool deck when she opened the Greta Andersen Swim School in 1960 and devoted her life teaching children how to be water-safe and confident swimmers. “Teaching toddlers to be unafraid of water,” she said, “and introducing them to the fun of swimming, has been her fondest ambition since earning her degree in physical education in Denmark in the 1940s.

Greta Anderson 1

Photo Courtesy: ISHOF

During her life, she was an Olympic champion, world professional marathon champion, multiple world-record holder from 150 yards to 50 miles, businesswoman, teacher and inspiration to men and women around the world. She was inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in 1964 and the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an Honor Swimmer in 1969, and in 2015, the International Swimming Hall of Fame honored her with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

9 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Raymond Woods
Raymond Woods
1 year ago

Great person

nelson gray
nelson gray
1 year ago

Hello everyone, I’m going to share my story of how I got myself out of a financial crisis. I met someone on Instagram who told me how I could make huge profits from investing in cryptocurrency, I fell for his scam and started investing to the point where I invested my entire savings and took a loan after he thoroughly brainwashed me into investing more to gain financial freedom. To cut the story short, I had invested $874,000 in bitcoins into this scam, I was depressed to the point of taking my life when I came across an article about a hacker Richard Pryce wizard, who was able to recover money lost through a cryptocurrency scam for several other people, I hurriedly contacted them, I don’t know how it was possible but Richard Pryce wizard was able to recover all my money in the space of 48 hours. I’m still in shock from this experience but I’m truly thankful to Richard Pryce wizard and I would love to put this out there to everyone that if you think all hope is lost then you should contact them to help you find a solution. They will recover everything you lost to these scammers in a matter of hours. Thank you so much Richard Pryce wizard Their contact information is (richardprycewizard2016@gmail.com WhatsApp +36302513218)

Stephen "Sid" Cassidy
Stephen "Sid" Cassidy
1 year ago

Thank you Meg/ISHOF for remembering this incredible legend.
RIP Greta and many thanks for the inspiration.

rob davis
rob davis
1 year ago

So many accomplishments. Truly, a champion in so many ways.

B. Gonzales
B. Gonzales
1 year ago

Thank you for sharing this beautiful tribute to such a beautiful woman.

Darin May
Darin May
1 year ago

I took my first swim lessons from her at her school in Long Beach in 1969 at age four.

Må hun hvile i fred.

Last edited 1 year ago by Darin May
Niels Erik Poulsen
Niels Erik Poulsen
1 year ago

What a lady – Niels Erik Poulsen, Trekroner, Roskilde, Denmark

Shari
Shari
1 year ago

She was 95, not 96 at the time of her death on Feb. 6, 2023. Born May 1 1927.

Recovery Intelligence
Recovery Intelligence
11 hours ago

ARE YOU A VICTIM OF INVESTMENT OR NFT SCAM? DO YOU WANT TO INVESTIGATE A CHEATING SPOUSE? DO YOU DESIRE CREDIT REPAIR (ALL BUREAUS)? SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH AN ETHICAL HACKER ASAP TO GET STARTED.

Let us show you the art of Ethical Hacking….!

EMERALD HACKS is a financial regulator, PRIVATE investigation and funds recovery body. We specialize in cases as regards ETHICAL HACKING, CRYPTOCURRENCY, FAKE INVESTMENT SCHEMES and RECOVERY SCAM. We are also experts in CREDIT REPAIR, we analyze what’s impacting your score.
All software tools needed to execute RECOVERIES from start to finish are available in stock.
Kindly NOTE that the available tools does NOT apply to CREDIT FIX.

Be ALERT to FALSE reviews and testimonies on the internet, the authors and perpetrators unite to form a syndicate.

Contact our team as soon as you can via the email address below to book a mail meeting with an ethical hacker.
emeraldhacks (.) org () gmail (.) com

Stay Safe out there !jjj

9
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x