WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:
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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23: FIRST WOMAN TO SWIM THE ENGLISH CHANNEL
Profile America - Sunday, October 23rd. One-hundred-five years ago today one of the most celebrated figures of the roaring twenties was born - Gertrude Ederle, who, at the age of 19, became the first woman to swim the English Channel. Her time of 14 hours and 31 minutes broke a record that had stood for more than 50 years. A powerful swimmer, Ederle had won three Olympic medals and set 29 records before her channel crossing. Her channel swim turned her into an international celebrity, and her ticker-tape parade in New York City drew more than 2 million people. Ederle's accomplishment also sparked widespread interest in swimming. Now, 63.5 million people enjoy swimming on a regular basis, making it one of the most popular sporting activities in the U.S. Profile America is in its 15th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.
Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2011, p. 529
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2011, t. 1248
Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).
SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau
