Olympic Pool Champion and Open Water Queen Greta Andersen Dies At 96

On February 6, 2023, the world of swimming lost a long-time ambassador in 96-year-old Greta Andersen. One of the greatest swimmers of all time, Andersen burst onto the world’s stage when she won the gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle at the 1948 London Olympics. When she returned home to Copenhagen Denmark, she was a national hero.

After moving from her native Denmark to Long Beach, California, in 1953, she found she needed to make a living. She met Tom Park, a record-setting Catalina Channel swimmer, who convinced her she had what it took to be a successful marathon swimmer.

Read the full obituary and see the pictures @ SwimmingWorld