Helene Madison facts for kids
Madison (left) with Johnny Weissmuller at 1932 Olympics
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | June 19, 1913 Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. |
|||||||||||||||||||
| Died | November 27, 1970 (aged 57) Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
|||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Swimming | |||||||||||||||||||
| Strokes | Freestyle | |||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Washington Athletic Club | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Medal record
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Helene Emma Madison (born June 19, 1913 – died November 27, 1970) was an amazing American swimmer. She was an Olympic champion and even held many world records!
At the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Helene won three gold medals. She was one of the most successful athletes there. She won in the 100-meter freestyle, 400-meter freestyle, and the 4x100-meter freestyle relay.
Before the Olympics, in just over a year (1930-1931), she broke an incredible sixteen world records in different swimming races! After her amazing Olympic wins, Helene appeared in a couple of movies, The Human Fish and The Warrior's Husband. Because she became a professional by acting, she wasn't allowed to compete in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. Later, she worked as a swimming teacher, a store clerk, and a nurse.
Contents
About Helene's Life
Helene had a daughter named Helene Madison Ware. Helene Madison passed away in 1970 in Seattle, Washington.
Honoring a Champion
Helene Madison's incredible achievements were recognized in several ways.
Swimming Hall of Fame
She was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1966. This is a special place that honors the greatest swimmers of all time.
U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
Later, in 1992, she was also added to the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. This shows how important her contributions to American sports were.
Helene Madison Pool
To remember her, a swimming pool was built in 1970 in Seattle, Washington. It's called the Helene Madison Pool, and it helps keep her memory alive for new generations of swimmers.
See Also
- List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
- List of multiple Olympic gold medalists
- List of Olympic medalists in swimming (women)
