WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:
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MONDAY, AUGUST 6: EDERLE SWIMS ENGLISH CHANNEL
Profile America — Monday, August 6th. It isn't often that a young person does something alone that captures the attention of the whole world. On this day in 1926, 19-year-old New Yorker Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim the English Channel. She chose a day so rough that steamship trips were canceled. She not only completed the swim, but her time of 14 hours and 31 minutes broke a record that had stood for more than 50 years. A powerful swimmer, Ederle had won three Olympic medals and set 29 records before her channel adventure. Her crossing sparked a jump in the popularity of swimming. Today, more than 50 million people in the U.S. enjoy swimming, ranking it among America's most popular recreational activities. Profile America is in its 16th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.
Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2012, p. 392
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1249
Profile America is produced by the Center for New Media and Promotions of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).
SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau
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