Mercedes Gleitze
Toronto Daily Star, September 8 1931
Mercedes Gleitze (1900-1981) was the first person to swim the Straits of Gibraltar and the first British woman to swim the English Channel. When another British woman claimed to have swum the channel faster, which proved to be a hoax, Ms. Gleitze's claim was doubted. As a response, she attempted a "vindication swim" of the channel, despite it being later in the year than when Channel swims are normally attempted. She was forced to quit because of the cold but endured enough to prove her claim.
Ms. Gleitze retired from competitive swimming in 1932 after setting an endurance record of 46 hours. She married, had three children, and became increasingly reclusive, lying about her past to her neighbours.
Created October 2, 2025.