Eleanor Coleman (March 10, 1905 – October 2, 1978) was an American swimmer.[1]
Early life
Coleman was born in Chicago and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,[2] the daughter of Charles Lemuel Coleman and Nellie May Emerson Coleman. Both of her parents were born in Illinois; her father was a traveling salesman.[3]
Career
Coleman broke the world record in 1922 in the 100 yd breaststroke and competed in the women's 200 metre breaststroke event at the 1924 Summer Olympics.[4] For three years she held a world's record in the women's breaststroke.[5][6][7] Later in life, she gave swimming demonstrations,[8] and was a Red Cross examiner for lifesaving.[9] Beyond the pool, she was a sports writer and editor at the Wisconsin News.[10] She also had a newspaper column and hosted a weekly radio show, both on women's health and fitness.[11][12] She was appointed promotional chair for the American Red Cross in Brown County in 1939.[13]