Canadian Swimmer. Born in Port Credit, Ontario, she demonstrated unusual swimming skills by age three and won her first gold medal as a competitive swimmer when she was only nine years old. At age 18, she was the first Canadian to win the Junior National Amateur Athletic Union 2.5-mile long distance swimming championship in New Jersey. She joined the Canadian Women's Army Corps and would continue to win numerous swimming championships. Married in 1946, three months after giving birth to her first child, she placed second in the Five-Mile World Championship Swim at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. On August 16, 1951, she became the first Canadian to swim across the English Channel, not to mention the first mother to conquer the channel. She was the 25th person to swim the channel. She passed away in White Rock, British Columbia at age 78. Cause of death was diabetes.
Canadian Swimmer. Born in Port Credit, Ontario, she demonstrated unusual swimming skills by age three and won her first gold medal as a competitive swimmer when she was only nine years old. At age 18, she was the first Canadian to win the Junior National Amateur Athletic Union 2.5-mile long distance swimming championship in New Jersey. She joined the Canadian Women's Army Corps and would continue to win numerous swimming championships. Married in 1946, three months after giving birth to her first child, she placed second in the Five-Mile World Championship Swim at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. On August 16, 1951, she became the first Canadian to swim across the English Channel, not to mention the first mother to conquer the channel. She was the 25th person to swim the channel. She passed away in White Rock, British Columbia at age 78. Cause of death was diabetes.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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