Mercedes Gleitze - the untold story of a pioneering swimmer
Mercedes' swims were covered extensively by the media of the day. The young, working class woman was a role model of her era - but became a recluse, lying about her achievements.
Mercedes Gleitze was born in Brighton in 1900. A love of sea swimming turned into an extraordinary career as she became a celebrated long-distance swimmer. She became the first British woman to swim the English Channel and the first person to conquer the Straits of Gibraltar - donating her winnings to a homeless charity. Mercedes retired from swimming in 1933 - when she became a housewife, bringing up three children. She became increasingly reclusive and as her grandson explains - never spoke to her family about her career and even lied about her past to her neighbours.
To mark her extraordinary achievements, a plaque has been unveiled in Brighton. She's also the subject of a new film, 'Vindication Swim', tracing her battle to prove her channel swim after another woman falsely claimed to have done so before her. To find out more about this inspiring woman, the 大象传媒's Arts Correspondent, David Sillito has taken on one of his most challenging assignments - taking a plunge in Brighton's freezing waters. This is 5 Minutes On - Mercedes Gleitze.
Image Credit - Central Press via Getty images
