29 Facts About Mercedes Gleitze

Mercedes Gleitze was the first known person to swim the Straits of Gibraltar and the first British woman to swim the English Channel.

The name of Mercedes Gleitze was used to market Rolex's new waterproof case, the "Oyster".

Mercedes Gleitze established endurance records for swimming including a record of 46 hours in 1932.

Mercedes Gleitze was able to raise funds to found the Mercedes Gleitze Homes in Leicester via sponsorship.

The Mercedes Gleitze charity is linked to the Family Action charity.

Mercedes Gleitze was born to Heinrich and Anna in 1900 in the English south-coastal town of Brighton.

Mercedes Gleitze's father was a German immigrant from the county of Gottingen.

Mercedes Gleitze was a baker and her mother taught languages.

Mercedes Gleitze attracted attention when, at the eighth attempt, she became the first British woman to swim the English Channel, on 7 October 1927.

Mercedes Gleitze failed to complete the swim but her endurance of the cold convinced all that the original record should stand.

Mercedes Gleitze made not only her name but that of Rolex's Oyster watch.

Mercedes Gleitze made the return swim on 20 August 1929, this time swimming from Portstewart across to Black Rock Bay near Moville in Inishowen.

Mercedes Gleitze was supported in her work by the Rotary Club which was undertaking a scheme to move unemployed people from the north of England to Leicester where they could find work.

Mercedes Gleitze continued to break records and she became the first known person to swim the Straits of Gibraltar between Europe and Africa on 6 April 1928.

Mercedes Gleitze travelled to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to establish new records for swimming.

Mercedes Gleitze married engineer Patrick Carey in Dover in 1930 with the American swimming twins Bernice and Phyllis Zittenfeld as bridesmaids.

The ceremony was covered by British newsreels where Mercedes Gleitze announced that she was off to swim the Hellespont instead of going on honeymoon.

Mercedes Gleitze continued to extend her endurance record to 45 hours the following year.

Mercedes Gleitze gathered a large number of companies who were keen to be associated with her achievements.

Mercedes Gleitze appeared at a corset demonstration for Kellett's and at the showing of the, now lost, 1927 silent film Swim Girl, Swim, which starred Bebe Daniels and a fellow swimmer Gertrude Ederle.

Mercedes Gleitze recommended Be-ze-be honey and bathing caps as well as her enduring role as a brand ambassador for Rolex watches.

Mercedes Gleitze became a celebrity and she was regularly the subject of stories.

The newspaper that most adopted a tabloid approach to her was the Daily Mirror that hinted that Mercedes Gleitze was using her charity's funds inappropriately.

Millie Hudson, who went with her to Gibraltar, was said to be a rival, and Mercedes Gleitze was said to have annoyed Lottie Shoemmell, who was an American swimmer, by refusing to race her across the Channel.

Mercedes Gleitze died aged 80, on 9 February 1981, in London.

Besides her three children and many swimming records, Mercedes Gleitze founded several homes that were used by homeless British people during the 1930s.

The advert did not mention Mercedes Gleitze, nor did it mention that she did not complete a Channel swim whilst wearing the watch.

The advert showed the swimmer wearing the watch on her wrist, although when Mercedes Gleitze attempted to carry the watch across the Channel she had it tied around her neck.

In January 2022, a blue plaque for Mercedes Gleitze was unveiled at her birthplace in Freshfield Road, Brighton.