Ethelda Bleibtrey

Ethelda Marguerite Bleibtrey (February 27, 1902 – May 6, 1978), also known by her married name Ethelda Schlatke, was an American competition swimmer, three-time Olympic gold medalist, and former world record-holder in multiple events.

Ethelda Bleibtrey

Bleibtrey at 1920 Olympics
Personal information
Full name	Ethelda Marguerite Bleibtrey
National team	United States
Born	(1902-02-27)February 27, 1902 Waterford, New York
Died	May 6, 1978(1978-05-06) (aged 76) West Palm Beach, Florida
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Freestyle
Club	Women's Swimming Association
Medal record Women's swimming Representing the United States Olympic Games 1920 Antwerp 100 m freestyle 1920 Antwerp 300 m freestyle 1920 Antwerp 4×100 m freestyle relay

Bleibtrey was a dominant backstroke swimmer, but entered and won gold medals in three freestyle events when there were no women's backstroke events at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium.[1] She won a gold medal as member of the winning U.S. team in the women's 4×100-meter freestyle relay, together with teammates Margaret Woodbridge, Frances Schroth and Irene Guest.[1][2] The American relay team set a new world record of 5:11.6 in the event final.[1] Individually, Bleibtrey also received gold medals and set world records in the women's 100-meter freestyle (1:13.6) and the women's 300-meter freestyle (4:34.0).[3][4]

She was born in Waterford, New York[1] to John and Maggie Bleibtrey.[5] She started swimming to help recover from polio, which she contracted in 1917. [6] In 1919, she was arrested for "nude swimming" — she removed her stockings at a pool where it was forbidden to bare "the lower female extremities for public bathing." The subsequent public support for Bleibtrey led to the abandonment of stockings as a conventional element in women's swimwear.[7]

Bleibtrey was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Swimmer" in 1967.[8] She died in West Palm Beach, Florida in 1978.[1]