On August 27, 1926, the city celebrated the perseverance of 19-year-old New Yorker Gertrude Ederle (standing center, looking left), for swimming across the English Channel. Her 14-hour, 31-minute time beat the five previous successful crossings, all made by men, and was not bested until 1964. Ederle’s accomplishment inspired countless female athletes and brought her world-wide fame, far greater than the accolades she received for winning three swimming medals in the 1924 Olympics.
Photo: NYC Municipal Archives














