Rawls, Katherine (1918–1982)

views updated

Rawls, Katherine (1918–1982)

American swimmer, diver and aviator. Born June 14, 1918, in Fort Lauderdale, FL; died April 1982.

Dominant female swimmer of the 1930s; at Los Angeles Olympics, won a silver medal in springboard diving (1932); at Berlin Olympics, won a bronze medal in the 4 × 100-meter freestyle relay and a silver medal in springboard diving (1936); won record number of national titles in swimming and diving, including 14 national outdoor, 11 national indoor, and 5 national diving; was possibly the 1st to flip turn in swimming competition; retired (1939); during WWII, was one of the original 25 women pilots selected for US Squadron of Women's Army Ferry Service.

More From encyclopedia.com