Gertrude Ederle was asked to provide her passport after the gruelling 14-and-a-half hour swim (Picture: Bettmann Archive)100 years ago, a 20-year-old woman swam across the English Channel faster than anyone ever before. Under the rules of the Channel Swimming Association, any physical contact with a swimmer disqualifies their attempt. Whatever the reason, Hanna Hubert, from the Trudy Ederle Foundation, says that Gertrude ‘never judged about it.’ She retrained intensely for her second attempt (Picture: Trudy Ederle Foundation / Gertrude Ederle Private Collection, courtesy of William Charles Morrison)Following her failed attempt, Gertrude faced major backlash, with critics insisting it was proof that women were not strong enough to swim the Channel. After the successful swim, Ederle, shown with her bubble boat, was approached by theatrical managers offering her contracts for an appearance on the stage.