Miss Gertrude Ederle and Jabez Wolffe, failed attempt

Miss Gertrude Ederle B/W Photograph 19-08-1925. Girl Channel swimmers Jazz band and Wireless Miss Gertrude Ederle, the 18 year old American girl, dived into the sea at Caps Griz Nez on Tuesday in an attempt to swim the channel. She was accompanied by a tug equipped with wireless and a Jazz band to give her encouragement.

Photo:- Miss Ederle leaving the tug to start her swim. Being greased by trainer Jabez Wolffe on the row boat from her pilot boat, tug La Morinie

Gertrude was the first woman to swim the English Channel, on the 6th of August 1926 in a new record time of 14hrs.39mins. She was the first person to swim front crawl. She had one unsuccessful swim in 1925 on August 18th. She swam for 8 hours 50mins She was trained by Jabez Wolffe. and swam Breast stroke on her first swim. On her successful swim she wore a two piece costume. and used an eight leg beat crawl. She was one of six children. She held world records for 300yds. 500yds, 880yds, 400m.440m, 500m. She played herself in the film Swim girl Swim.