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Eleanor Coleman

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Eleanor Coleman
Eleanor Coleman, from a 1924 publication
Personal information
Born(1905-03-10)March 10, 1905
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedOctober 2, 1978(1978-10-02) (aged 73)
Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.
Spouse
(m. 1927; died 1968)
Children4, including Gary
RelativesAnthony Dilweg (grandson)
Sport
SportSwimming

Eleanor Coleman (March 10, 1905 – October 2, 1978) was an American swimmer.[1]

Early life

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Coleman was born in Chicago and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,[2] the daughter of Charles Lemuel Coleman and Nellie May Emerson Coleman. Both of her parents were born in Illinois; her father was a traveling salesman.[3]

Career

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Coleman broke the world record in 1922 in the 100 yd breaststroke and competed in the women's 200 metre breaststroke event at the 1924 Summer Olympics.[4] For three years she held a world's record in the women's breaststroke.[5][6][7] Later in life, she gave swimming demonstrations,[8] and was a Red Cross examiner for lifesaving.[9] Beyond the pool, she was a sports writer and editor at the Wisconsin News.[10] She also had a newspaper column and hosted a weekly radio show, both on women's health and fitness.[11][12] She was appointed promotional chair for the American Red Cross in Brown County in 1939.[13]

Personal life and legacy

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In 1927, she married Marquette University and Green Bay Packers football player, and later Congressman, LaVern Dilweg.[1][14] The Dilwegs had four children. Her husband died in 1968,[15] and she died in 1978, aged 73 years, in Green Bay, Wisconsin.[16][17] Her son Gary Dilweg served in the Wisconsin state legislature. Her grandson Anthony Dilweg played football at Duke University, and later with the Green Bay Packers.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Eleanor Coleman". Olympedia. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  2. ^ "Title Holder to Defend Her Laurels" Midweek Pictorial (January 17, 1924): 4. via Internet Archive
  3. ^ United States Census returns for 1910, Chicago Ward 25, at Ancestry.
  4. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Eleanor Coleman Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  5. ^ "National Girl Swim Stars at Marquette". The Post-Crescent. March 15, 1927. p. 13. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Girl Champ Adds New Crown". The Miami News. January 24, 1923. p. 30. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Broke Her Own World Record". The Boston Globe. March 28, 1923. p. 19. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Underwater Star, Olympic Champion Swim at 'Y'". The Post-Crescent. April 11, 1932. p. 12. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "C. C. Club Notes". Green Bay Press-Gazette. August 16, 1933. p. 16. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b Lieber, Jill. "Finding a Place in the Sun". Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  11. ^ "Green Bay Women! (advertisement)". Green Bay Press-Gazette. January 27, 1933. p. 2. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Cobb's Radio Gym (advertisement)". Green Bay Press-Gazette. March 20, 1933. p. 11. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Mrs. Dilweg Takes County R. C. Post". Green Bay Press-Gazette. May 10, 1939. p. 10. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Newlyweds". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. July 26, 1927. p. 11. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "LaVern R. (Lavvie) Dilweg". Green Bay Press-Gazette. January 4, 1968. p. 22. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Swimmer Dead". Times Record News. October 4, 1978. p. 18. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Record Holder". Daily Colonist. October 4, 1978. p. 19. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
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