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Edith Motridge

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Edith Motridge
Edith Motridge in 1936
Personal information
Full nameEdith Segal Motridge
National team United States
Born(1913-07-30)July 30, 1913
San Francisco, California
DiedNovember 1, 2007(2007-11-01) (aged 94)
Fairbanks Ranch, California
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBackstroke
ClubLos Angeles Athletic Club

Edith Segal Motridge (July 30, 1913 – November 1, 2007), also known by her married name Edith Polster[1] or as Edith Motridge Segal,[2][3] was an American competitive swimmer who represented the United States in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, coming fourth in the women's 100-meter backstroke. After her competitive swimming career, she became Esther Williams' stand-in when filming Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movies, although she also had minor roles in films such as Cynthia (1946) and The Cobweb (1955).

After Motridge's swimming and film career, she was involved in philanthropic efforts with her husband, including a Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito Foundation scholarship. She died in Fairbanks Ranch in 2007.

Early life

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Motridge was born in San Francisco on July 30, 1913,[4] later attending Hollywood High School and the University of Southern California. Due to Hollywood High School not having a girls' swim team, she trained with the boys' team, and later with the Los Angeles Athletic Club.[1]

Career

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Competitive swimming

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At the 1936 Summer Olympics, Motridge placed fourth in the women's 100-meter backstroke with a time of 1:19.6.[5][6] She was also the US champion in the 100m backstroke in 1939[6] with a time of 1:18.9.[7] Along with Esther Williams, she set the national record in either the 300m or 300-yard medley in 1939.[a]

Film

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After her competitive swimming career, Motridge worked on movies at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) as Esther Williams' stunt double and stand-in.[6][11][12] She worked on all swimming films made by MGM.[6] Motridge later appeared in other films without Williams, such as in 1945 in Without Love.[13] She went on to play a role in The Harvey Girls in 1946,[14] then played a teacher in the 1947 film Cynthia.[15] She played a nurse in 1955's The Cobweb.[16] In 1956, she had an acting role in The Swan.[17]

Personal life

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In 1969, Motridge married Leonard Polster.[1] They moved to Fairbanks Ranch in 1983.[6][18] They had three children and four grandchildren.[1] Throughout their partnership they were involved in philanthropic efforts,[1] including a Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito Foundation scholarship[19] started in the late 1980s[20] which was reported in 1999 to give $25,000–$30,000 scholarships to students in North County, California.[18]

Motridge died on November 1, 2007, at her home in Fairbanks Ranch.[1]

Notes

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  1. ^ Some sources state 300 yards,[8] others state 300 meters.[9][10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Polster, Edith Motridge". Los Angeles Times. November 6, 2007. p. B11.
  2. ^ "U.S. Women Make Strong Showing". The Gazette and Daily. August 12, 1936. p. 10.
  3. ^ "American Stars Win Honors In Swimming Tests". Reno Gazette-Journal. August 13, 1936. p. 14.
  4. ^ "Edith Motridge". Olympedia. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  5. ^ "Olympedia – 100 metres Backstroke, Women". Olympedia. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Edith Motridge Biography, Olympic Medals, Records and Age". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  7. ^ "Youngsters Dominate Women's Swim Meet". Santa Barbara News-Press. July 30, 1939. p. 16.
  8. ^ Beach & Pool. Beach and Pool Publishing Corporation. 1940. p. 6. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  9. ^ Martin, W. E. J. (December 3, 1950). "Stand-In a Big Factor in Film Output Today". Buffalo Courier Express. pp. 95–96.
  10. ^ Marsh, Irving T.; Ehre, Edward (1945). Best Sports Stories. Sporting News. p. 368. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  11. ^ "First Spectacular of Fall To Be Williams Water Show". Columbia Daily Tribune. September 29, 1956. p. 11.
  12. ^ Donnelly, Marea (August 8, 2016). "From cripple to star: How Australian-born diver Annette Kellerman became a 'pinnacle of physical feminine perfection'". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  13. ^ "June Subs Freund". Evening Star-News. December 14, 1944. p. 6.
  14. ^ Heffernan, Harold (March 13, 1945). "Hollywood Motion Picture Stars to See Themselves Auctioned Off—in Effigy". The Ottawa Citizen. p. 17.
  15. ^ Churchill, Reba; Churchill, Bonnie (November 28, 1946). "Hollywood Diary". Valley Times. p. 15.
  16. ^ "Edith Comes Out Onto Dry Land". Los Angeles Mirror. January 20, 1955. p. 28.
  17. ^ "Three Stand-ins Get Breaks in 'The Swan'". The Los Angeles Times. April 28, 1956. p. 12.
  18. ^ a b "Clubs". North County Times. December 29, 1999. p. 7.
  19. ^ Groch, Laura (August 3, 2017). "Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito Foundation awards scholarships". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  20. ^ Knox, Julie (May 31, 1999). "Couple establishes student scholarship fund". North County Times. p. 19.
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