Gertrude had competed in the 1924 olympics. Gertrude Ederle was the first women who was showcased in the English channel in the year of 1926. She learned to swim at the local pool as well as the New Jersey beach. She was a champion swimmer when she was a teen in high school. She was in school to be a professional swimmer and then left school to join the Women's Swimming Association. Ederle also has a short film about her life and career. She also had a severe back in 1933 and then from that, she wasn't able to perform again. Ederle also had a hearing problem and it impacted her throughout her later life. Gertrude never got married, but she continued to live with her friends in Queens. In her name, the Gertrude Ederle Recreation center was created near the Upper west side. This location was close to where she learned how to swim. In her private life, she taught swimming to deaf children and she passed away at the age of 98. Gertrude also was invited to the White House in which she received praise from President Calvin Coolidge, he called her "Americas Best Girl." Her record was unbroken until the 1950's. She won an Olympic for Women's 4*100 metre freestyle relay.