Bill Burgess facts for kids
Burgess in 1911
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| Personal information | |||||||||||
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| Born | 15 June 1872 Rotherham, England |
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| Died | 2 July 1950 (aged 78) Paris, France |
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| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||
| Weight | 95 kg (209 lb) | ||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||
| Sport | Swimming | ||||||||||
| Club | Libellule de Paris | ||||||||||
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Medal record
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Thomas William Burgess (born June 15, 1872 – died July 2, 1950) was a famous swimmer. He was the second person ever to swim across the English Channel. This amazing swim happened on September 6, 1911. It took him 16 tries to finally make it! Even though he was British, Bill Burgess lived most of his life in France. He even won a bronze medal in water polo for France at the 1900 Olympic Games.
Later, in 1926, he helped train Gertrude Ederle. She became the first woman to swim the English Channel.
Contents
Early Life and Moving to France
Bill Burgess was born in Rotherham, England. His father was a blacksmith. When Bill was about 10 years old, his family moved to Westminster, London. In London, he joined a swimming club. He even swam in the River Thames!
Around 1889, when Bill was about 17, he moved to Paris, France. He went there to help set up a new part of a rubber company. He lived in France for the rest of his life. In 1893, he married a French woman named Anne Rosalie Mioux. They had two children together.
Olympic Games and Channel Swim
Competing in the 1900 Olympics
Bill Burgess was a talented athlete. He competed in both swimming and water polo at the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris. Even though he was British, he played for the French water polo team. This was allowed back then! His team won a bronze medal. In swimming, he placed fourth in the 4000-meter freestyle race. He also finished fifth in the 200-meter backstroke.
Swimming the English Channel
On September 6, 1911, Bill Burgess made history. He became only the second person to swim across the English Channel. This was a huge challenge! It took him 16 attempts to finally succeed. He was also the first person to wear goggles during the swim. His motorcycle goggles helped protect his eyes from the water. He swam using only the breaststroke.
After his incredible swim, King George V of England sent him a special message. The King congratulated him on his "determination and endurance." Bill Burgess was very proud to receive this message.
Training Other Swimmers
In the 1920s, Bill Burgess became a coach for other swimmers. One of his most famous students was Gertrude Ederle. She was an Olympic gold medalist and a world record holder. In 1926, with Bill's help, Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim the English Channel.
From 1922 to 1934, Bill Burgess had a summer home near Cap Gris Nez in France. This spot was close to the English Channel. He used it as a training base for many swimmers who wanted to cross the Channel.
Later Life
During World War II, in 1941, Bill Burgess was taken prisoner by the Nazis in France. He was held in a prison camp for a short time but was released later that same year. He passed away in Paris in 1950 at the age of 78.
See also
- List of Olympic medalists in water polo (men)
