01
Champion Before the Channel
Before setting her sights on the English Channel, Trudy had already won Olympic gold and bronze medals, established numerous swimming records, and become one of the most accomplished athletes of her generation.
1926 — 2026
A century after Ederle
The WOWSA Awards take their bearings from 6 August 1926 — the day Gertrude Ederle crossed the English Channel and reset what the sport believed was possible.
2026 Legacy Honoree
1926—2026
Gertrude Ederle
On 6 August 1926, Gertrude Ederle walked out of the water on the English coast having become the first woman to swim the English Channel — nearly two hours faster than any man before her. New York answered with the largest ticker-tape parade the city had ever staged.
She swam 21 miles in 14 hours and 34 minutes through a rising sea, coated in grease, guided by a tug and a gramophone. Her crossing did not simply set a record; it reset the argument about what endurance sport was for and who it belonged to. A century later, that argument is the standard the WOWSA Awards are judged against.
“I have the confidence that I can do it.”
1926 — 2026A century of open water
Beyond the Channel
More Than One Historic Swim
Gertrude Ederle’s English Channel crossing became the defining achievement of her life, but it was only one chapter in an extraordinary career. She was already an Olympic champion, a world-record holder, an innovator, and one of the most important women in the history of sport.
02
An Athlete and Innovator
She adapted her equipment and technique to meet the demands of open water, including modifying her goggles and challenging conventional expectations about how female athletes should dress and compete.
03
A Legacy Beyond Competition
After hearing loss affected her later life, Trudy continued sharing her love of swimming by teaching deaf children. Her legacy extends far beyond a single record: she changed what generations of women believed was possible.
Past winners archive
A permanent record of open water excellence
Every WOWSA Awards cycle since 2004 is preserved in the WOWSA archive — finalists, winners and the swims that defined each year.
Explore past winnersBrowse the archive on this site
Explore her story
Discover the Full Story of Gertrude Ederle
Her English Channel crossing was only one chapter in an extraordinary life.
Explore 20 stories from Trudy Ederle’s journey—from her early swimming career and Olympic medals to her first Channel attempt, equipment innovations, record-breaking crossing, and life after becoming one of the most celebrated athletes in the world.
Read 20 Fascinating Facts About Trudy Ederle
Nominations are open
The next chapter is being written now.
Nominate the swimmer, pioneer or community leader whose 2026 belongs in this record.