Sybil Bauer
Encyclopedia
Sybil Bauer was an American
swimmer.
Bauer attended Schurz High School
in Chicago
, Illinois
and Northwestern University
in Evanston, Illinois
. From 1921 to 1926, she set twenty-three world records in women's swimming, mostly in the backstroke
. During a 1922 meet in Bermuda, she also became the first woman to break a men's record, finishing the 440 yard backstroke in a time of 6:24.8 (about four seconds ahead of the old mark). However, that record was unofficial, since it took place at an unsanctioned contest.
Bauer competed at the 1924 Summer Olympics
, where she won a gold medal in the 100 meter backstroke. She finished with a time of 1:23.2, four seconds ahead of silver medalist Phyllis Harding
. Bauer was engaged to future television host Ed Sullivan
, but she died of cancer
at the age of 23. She was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
in 1967. Bauer is buried at Mount Olive Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
swimmer.
Bauer attended Schurz High School
Schurz High School
Carl Schurz High School is a public secondary school located in the old section of the Irving Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.This school is named after German–American Carl Schurz, a statesman, soldier, and advocate of democracy in Germany....
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
and Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in Evanston, Illinois
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
. From 1921 to 1926, she set twenty-three world records in women's swimming, mostly in the backstroke
Backstroke
The backstroke, also sometimes called the back crawl, is one of the four swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only...
. During a 1922 meet in Bermuda, she also became the first woman to break a men's record, finishing the 440 yard backstroke in a time of 6:24.8 (about four seconds ahead of the old mark). However, that record was unofficial, since it took place at an unsanctioned contest.
Bauer competed at the 1924 Summer Olympics
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
, where she won a gold medal in the 100 meter backstroke. She finished with a time of 1:23.2, four seconds ahead of silver medalist Phyllis Harding
Phyllis Harding
Phyllis May Harding was an English backstroke and freestyle swimmer who competed for Great Britain in the 1924 Summer Olympics, 1928 Summer Olympics, 1932 Summer Olympics and 1936 Summer Olympics....
. Bauer was engaged to future television host Ed Sullivan
Ed Sullivan
Edward Vincent "Ed" Sullivan was an American entertainment writer and television host, best known as the presenter of the TV variety show The Ed Sullivan Show. The show was broadcast from 1948 to 1971 , which made it one of the longest-running variety shows in U.S...
, but she died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
at the age of 23. She was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
International Swimming Hall of Fame
The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of swimming in the United States and around...
in 1967. Bauer is buried at Mount Olive Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.