The International Swimming Hall of Fame was honored to be part of a small but special group invited to Dover and Kingsdown, England, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first successful crossing of the English Channel by a woman: the one and only Gertrude “Trudy” Ederle.
The event was hosted by the Trudy Ederle Foundation https://trudyederlefoundation.org/en/ on August 6, 2026 — 100 years to the day since her historic swim. We began with a visit to the Dover Museum for “Queen of the Waves,” a special exhibition dedicated to Ederle, and our first chance to meet members of the Ederle family in person, along with members of the Foundation.
Mary Ederle Ward, Trudy’s Niece
Our curator and historian, Bruce Wigo, had connected with Mary Ward, Trudy’s niece, after Mary and I spoke by phone earlier in the summer. Bruce then traveled to Mary’s home in New Jersey to personally collect Gertrude Ederle’s 100-year-old scrapbook, and at last, Mary and I were able to meet face to face. The Ederle family came out in force, and it was wonderful to share the day with so many relatives who so clearly adored their Aunt and Great Aunt.
The Ederle Family with The Trudy Ederle Foundation Members, including Rainer Frase, Founder
Imagine our surprise when we ran into 1995 Honoree “The Albatross,” Michael Gross of Germany, and his lovely wife, Ilona, who were in attendance. “Michael was is attendance as he represents something very closely connected to the Trudy Ederle Foundation‘s mission: outstanding achievement in elite sport combined with a successful and meanful second career beyond competitive sport”.
Michael and Ilona Gross
The Dover Museum’s exhibit was a wonderfully thorough tribute to Ederle and to the many remarkable Channel and marathon swimmers who followed her, and the museum itself is a real gem, tucked in the heart of Dover just minutes from the beach.
That evening, a bus carried our group of more than 50 to “The Rising Sun” restaurant just steps from Kingsdown Beach, where Ederle came ashore 100 years earlier. The Foundation had thought of everything. Dinner began around 7:30, and live monitors placed throughout the room were tracking Ederle’s swim in real time, as if she were making her way across the Channel that very night. We always knew exactly where she was and how much farther she had to go — it was a beautiful touch.
Watching Trudy swim 100 years earlier
Before dinner, guests mingled and swapped stories, and I had the pleasure of chatting with two more of our Honorees: Michael Read, inducted in 2011, and Kevin Murphy, inducted in 2009 — both of whom, at different points in their careers, were known as the “King of the English Channel.” The room was full of fascinating people: the High Sheriff of Kent, appointed by King Charles; the youngest swimmer to complete the Oceans Seven at the time of her achievement; Sally Minty-Gravett, an ISHOF Honoree; and so many more.
The two Michael ISHOF Honorees ~ Read and Gross
Friends celebrating Trudy along with Billy Morrison and Kevin Murphy
Dina Levačić, Marathon Swimmers, Sally Minty Gravett, ISHOF Honoree Kevin Murphy
The meal itself was exactly the kind of English fare Trudy would have loved — another lovely touch. My husband, Stu, and I were seated with the Ederle family, so we got all the inside stories. Much of the evening was spent simply telling tales about Trudy, and that was one of the best parts of the night: getting to know someone through the family who truly knew her.
Dinner!
The Trudy Ederle Foundation also presented gifts to a handful of people who had helped make the evening possible, and ISHOF was proud to be included. We received two special one-of-a-kind pieces of artwork and a copy of the new book, Trudy ~ What the Applause Left Behind, by Tobias Kolesnyk, the Foundation’s Director of Strategic Communications, plus lots of other goodies.
ISHOF representative Meg Keller-Marvin accepting award from Ranier Frase and grandson, Phillip.
ISHOF had gathered video tributes from Honorees and swimmers to honor Trudy, and all of them were shown that night. No surprise: Katie Ledecky’s left the whole room starstruck. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed a video — Donna de Varona, Missy Franklin, John Naber, Marcella MacDonald, Katie Ledecky, and Dara Torres.
Watching Katie Ledecky video
The true star of the evening, besides Trudy herself, was Hannah Hubert, Executive Director of the Trudy Ederle Foundation. Hannah was the smiling face behind every detail, crossing every “t” and dotting every “i” to bring this event home with an A+. Her attention to detail was truly one for the ages.
Hannah Hubert, Executive Director of the Trudy Ederle Foundation
After a delightful dinner filled with English fare, stories of Trudy, presentations, thank-you’s, and video tributes, the magic hour of 21:39 was almost upon us. We all made our way outside, where torches awaited — just like they carried 100 years before. We lit them and set off down a path through the residential streets of Kingsdown toward the beach.
Meg Keller-Marvin and Jon of the Dover Museum
As the path opened onto the shore, I was amazed to see more than 100 people already gathered on the beach, chatting and mingling. As it turned out, the townsfolk of Kingsdown had come out too, to celebrate Trudy at the stroke of 21:39 — the exact moment she had come ashore a century earlier. Torches lit up the night sky, and a local woman had even set up a table pouring glasses of champagne for anyone who wanted to partake. A few more speeches followed, and as the countdown began, the whole crowd joined together, cheering for Trudy at the exact moment: “Hip, hip, hooray!”
Celebrating on Kingsdown Beach
It was an unforgettable evening from start to finish, and ISHOF is so grateful to have been included. We loved reconnecting with old friends and meeting so many new ones. A special thank you to Hannah, to Tobias, Rainer and the Ederle family and to the entire Trudy Ederle Foundation for hosting this true once-in-a-lifetime event.
The Gertrude Ederle Trophy
A special thank you to the Trudy Ederle Foundation for the use of some of the their photos and to Hannah Hubert for all her help.