"Known as the "Australian Mermaid," swimmer Annette Kellerman took the world by storm at the turn of the twentieth century -- not just as a skilled long-distance swimmer, but also a daring stunts woman, vaudeville performer, silent movie star, and swimsuit innovator!
Originally a therapy for legs weakened by a childhood illness, swimming became a passion for Kellerman -- but often with a dramatic twist. Dressed as a mermaid, she earned money as a teen by diving into a glass tank of underwater creatures. As a young woman, she swam 26 miles (42 km) of the Thames Rives – a feat no man or woman had ever accomplished; repeatedly attempted the cross the English Channel (without success, but with no shortage of gumption), and was arrested for indecency for wearing a fitted, one-piece bathing suit on Revere Beach near Boston, Massachusetts (in place of the contemporary costume with pantaloons that she considered far too impractical).
In later years, she incorporated theatrics and risky dives into performances throughout the US, including on Hollywood's screens. Always a revolutionary, synchronized swimming is considered the brainchild of the talented Ms. Kellerman, as is the one-piece swimsuit. Her one-piece suit became so popular that it was known as the “Annette Kellerman” and was the first step toward the invention of modern swimwear."
[This was originally published by www.amightgirl.com on their facebook page]
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