Ethelda bleibtrey biography samples

Although I've read other picture books about women swimmers, I'm embarrassed to admit that I had never heard of Ethelda Bleibtrey, who won three gold medals during the Olympics. And I certainly should have, given her accomplishments and interesting back story. Still, Eliza Boxer's well-written and empathetic biography about her remedied that lack. I often tell my college students that I learn a great deal that I know about history and important historical figures from children's literature, and that's certainly the case here. Weakened by polio as a young girl, Bleibtrey began swimming after a doctor's suggestion that she do so, finding that her body didn't ache as much in the world, and that swimming made her stronger. She proceeded to work toward changes, flouting the law requiring women to wear socks to cover their legs while swimming and to endure having the length of their bathing suits measured by police. Later, she brought attention to the Central Park Reservoir's potential as a public pool. In between, of course, she swam in a muddy river on her way to gold. In her later career as a nurse, swimming was always a part of her own free time as well as a source of pleasure, healing, and empowerment for her young ch

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