Champion Swimmer. She was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil of German parents and was a pioneer in the development of the butterfly stroke. At the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, she was the first South American woman ever to compete in the Summer Games. In the 1936 Berlin Olympics, she was credited with being the first woman to swim the butterfly breaststroke. Although she never won an Olympic medal, in her career she set three world records in the 200 and 400 breaststroke and open relay, as well as nine records in the United States. She was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1988. She died of a heart attack.
Champion Swimmer. She was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil of German parents and was a pioneer in the development of the butterfly stroke. At the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, she was the first South American woman ever to compete in the Summer Games. In the 1936 Berlin Olympics, she was credited with being the first woman to swim the butterfly breaststroke. Although she never won an Olympic medal, in her career she set three world records in the 200 and 400 breaststroke and open relay, as well as nine records in the United States. She was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1988. She died of a heart attack.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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