The Loneliness of Gertrude Ederle: The real-life story of a forgotten hero in Disney+'s 'Young Woman and the Sea'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Walt Disney Studios gears up to narrate the forgotten tale of Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to swim the English Channel in 1926.
'Young Woman and the Sea' is an upcoming biographical film that celebrates Gertrude Ederle's achievements while highlighting her unwavering determination and the many dangers she faced during her historic swim.
Starring, Daisy Ridley as Gertrude Ederle, this film marks as a notable addition to meaningful cinema. Ahead of the film's release, here's everything you need to know about the forgotten hero:
Who was Gertrude Ederle?
Born in 1905, in New York City, Ederle had an inclination towards swimming since a very young age. She grew up in Manhattan where her father ran a butcher shop. At the age of 12, she joined Women's Swimming Association (WSA).
She went on to become the youngest world record holder in swimming as she made her first world record in the 880-yard freestyle. This achievement was followed by a lineup of victories as she set eight more world records after that out of which seven of them in 1922 at Brighton Beach.
At the age of 18, she participated in the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, where she bagged a gold medal as a member of the first-place U.S. team in the 4×100 meter freestyle relay.
During her stay abroad, the idea of swimming the channel between France and England birthed inside her, as reported by History.
Gertrude Ederle failed in her first attempt to cross the English channel
Before making history with her swim in 1926, she had a failed attempt in a year prior. Under the training of ex-swimmer Jabez Wolffe, she swam the channel in 1925.
As per History, The English press claimed that she was disqualified because someone in the support boat accompanying her had touched her. The controversy gained momentum as Wolffe had ordered another swimmer to recover Ederle from the water.
Unhappy with his decision, she speculated that he did not want Ederle to succeed.
Gertrude Ederle made history in 1926
In 1926, Ederle returned with more determination after being trained by coach Bill Burgess who had successfully swum the Channel in 1911. This time, at the age of 20, she was successful in swimming the Channel in a record-breaking 14 hours and 34 minutes.
Prior to her, only five men had completed the swim across the English Channel, with Enrique Tirabocchi at record duration of 16 hours, 33 minutes.
Ederle then gained the title of "Queen of the Waves".
Upon her return to the United States, her victory was celebrated with a parade in Manhattan. She also earned a brief role in the Hollywood film 'Swim Girl, Swim.'
How did Gertrude Ederle die?
Gertrude Ederle reached the heights of the success that remains a dream to many. However, she faced challenges with her growing age, as her swimming exacerbated a childhood illness.
She was nearly totally deaf before she was 40. Nevertheless, she continued to share her love of swimming by teaching deaf children.
She had a lonely end to her remarkable life. She never married and spent final years of her life in an old age home. She died on November 30, 2003 in New Jersey at the age of 98.
Directed by Joachim Rønning, 'Young Woman and the Sea' aims to honor her life and achievements. The film also features Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Stephen Graham, Kim Bodnia, Christopher Eccleston, and Glenn Fleshler.
It is set to have a limited theatrical release on May 31, 2024 followed by its OTT release a few months later.
'Young Woman and the Sea' trailer