Helene Madison wins first of three gold medals at the 1932 Summer Olympics

• Before the Boys in the Boat brought home a gold medal at the 1936 Olympics, Seattle Olympian Helene Madison brought home three of them
• At the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, 19-year-old Helene Madison swept the women’s freestyle swimming events, winning three gold medals to tie Italian gymnast Romeo Neri as the most successful athlete at the games. That same year, she held all 16 women’s world freestyle records and 56 American records. When she returned to Seattle, the city presented her with a car, a Navy and police escort, and the huge tickertape parade pictured here.

Freestyle swimmer Helene Madison wins first of three gold medals at the 1932 Summer Olympics on August 8, 1932. – HistoryLink.org

This is a story that amazes me because I learned to swim at the pool she gave lessons at near where she and I grew up, Green Lake, Seattle. I had never heard of her, yet she was a local hero in her day. So, this is the perfect time to bring her up and what her legacy has led to. This Olympics, for the first time in history, has an equal number of men and women competing.

On August 8, 1932, swimmer Helene Madison (1913-1970) wins the first of three gold medals that she will be awarded at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The 19-year-old sports sensation has already broken numerous freestyle swimming records and won three consecutive national championships in amateur swimming. More than century after her birth, Madison will remain the only Washingtonian to win three gold medals in a single Olympics.

Of course, today, there are superstars in all sports, swimming, gymnastics, especially in these games, who have won numerous medals in numerous Olympics. I’m cheering on the excellence. Helene remains the most decorated Olympic medalist from Washington State.