Holm, Eleanor (1913–2004)

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Holm, Eleanor (1913–2004)

American swimmer. Name variations: Eleanor Holm Jarrett; Eleanor Holm Whalen. Born Eleanor Grace Holm, Dec 6, 1913, in Brooklyn, NY; died Jan 31, 2004, at home in Miami, Florida; attended Erasmus School; m. Art Jarrett (band leader and singer), 1933 (div. 1938); m. Billy Rose (r.n. William Rosenberg, entertainment mogul), 1939 (div. 1954); m. Tommy Whalen (former football player and oil executive), 1974 (died 1986).

Won the National Indoor Junior championships in 3 different categories; won Outdoor Junior Medley championship; won National Women's Indoor championships in 5 different categories; in all, won 35 US championships and set numerous world records (1927–35); won a gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke at Los Angeles Olympics (1932); probably most remembered for being booted off the US Olympic team on way to the Berlin Olympics by Avery Brundage, pres. of US Olympic Committee (1936); gained fame from the incident while Brundage was disparaged; appeared with the Cleveland Aquacade and at World's Fair (1939–40). Elected to International Swimming Hall of Fame (1966).

See also Women in World History.