It was the 1920s: roaring with fashion, prohibition, smaller bathing suits, "swimsuit police", and Gertrude Caroline Ederle. She was also known as "Queen of the Waves" and "America's Best Girl".
In 1925 Gertrude Caroline Ederle became the first woman to swim the English Channel, beating the men's world record by 1 hour and 59 minutes! Prior to this, Ederle held several (29!) amateur swimming records. She was a member of the 1924 US Olympic Team, winning the gold in 4×100 meter freestyle relay, and taking bronze in both the 100 meter and 400 meter freestyle.
Swimming the English Channel left her hearing impaired, and she later became a swim instructor for deaf children.
“When somebody tells me I cannot do something, that's when I do it.”
GCE - you are a B A D A S S !!