The 1948 Summer Olympics were held in London, after the 1940 & 1944 Games were cancelled due to World War II. Here are a few of the greats from 1948 that I have managed to add to my collection over the years.
Ann Curtis - United States
Member of International Swimming Hall of Fame Ann Curtis won a Gold medal in the 400 meter freestyle, and another one in the 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay in 1948. She also took the Silver medal in the 100 meter freestyle event. It could have been even more. She was already a double record holder in 1944, but those Olympics were cancelled due to World War II. She had a long and successful career as a coach in the San Francisco Bay area, and was one of the most respected women in all of sports. She passed away in 2012 at the age of 86.
Marie Corridon - United States
Marie Corridon grew up in Connecticut and made the 1948 Olympic team at the age of 18. She competed in the 100 meter freestyle, but did not medal. She won a Gold Medal as the leadoff swimmer for the victorious 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay team, setting an Olympic Record in the process. She was named "Norwalk's Favorite Daughter" and was celebrated throughout the town. She lived there until she passed away in 2010 at the age of 80. She was kind enough to sign this autograph for me in 1995.
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Karen Margrethe Harup - Denmark
Member of International Swimming Hall of Fame Karen Harup was one of two Gold medal swimmers for Denmark in 1948. She won the 100 meter backstroke, but also won Silver medals in the 400 meter freestyle and 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay. In 1948 there were no Individual medley or medley relays. If so, Harup probably would have amassed one of the biggest hauls of medals ever. She coached for nearly fifty years, and passed away in 2009 at the age of 84.
Thelma Kalama - United States
Thelma "Keko" Kalama swam freestyle for the University of Hawaii and for the United States relay team that won Gold in the 1948 Olympics. She was inducted into the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame and Hawaii Swimming Hall of Fame.
I wrote to her in 1996 and she was kind enough to sign a couple of cards for me. Sadly, she passed away in 1999 at the age of 68. |
Joe Verdeur - United States
Member of International Swimming Hall of Fame Joe Verdeur would have been the likely Gold medal winner in the 200 meter breaststroke in 1944, but those Games were cancelled. He excelled in the overhand return (which is now known as the butterfly), but was also an exceptional freestyler. He won the Gold medal in 1948. Verdeur was a teacher and coach in the Philadelphia area for nearly 35 years, including a ten year stint as the swim coach at Temple University. He passed away in 1991 at the age of 65.
Brenda Helser - United States
Brenda Helser was a superb swimmer throughout the 1940's when she was able to defeat the very best swimmers in the world. Alas, there were no Olympics during her prime, so she didn't get a chance to compete until she was in her mid-twenties. In 1948, Helser was able to win a Gold Medal as part of the freestyle relay. Later she became The Countess of Morelos.
She was kind enough to sign this card for me in 1995. |