Greta Andersen was a Danish professional swimmer. She broke 18 world marathon records and was the largest money winner in women’s professional swimming history.
- Died: February 6, 2023 (Who else died on February 6?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 95.
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The open water queen
Born in 1927, Andersen electrified her native Denmark when she won gold for the 100m freestyle at the 1948 London Olympics, the first held post WWII. After emigrating to the United States in 1953, Andersen switched to professional marathon swimming and quickly dominated the sport. In 1958, she become the first person to swim a major channel (the Santa Catalina Channel) in both directions. Andersen earned first, second, or third place in every event she swam, against both men and women. She was the largest money winner in women’s professional swimming history and broke 18 world marathon records over the course of her career.
Youth water education was a particular passion for Andersen. In 1960, she opened Greta Andersen Swim School, where she helped pioneer life-saving baby swimming techniques. This work helped earn her a spot in the Orange County Register’s “Most Influential” series in 2015.
Andersen was inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in 1964. The International Swimming Hall of Fame awarded her as an Honor Swimmer in 1969 and with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.
Notable Quote
“You don’t think about what’s ahead. You forget about it and you just swim.” Quoted on Openwaterswimming.com
Tributes to Greta Andersen
Fulll obituary: The New York Times
