 Eleanor Coleman, from a 1924 publication | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 10, 1905 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | October 2, 1978 (aged 73) Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4, including Gary |
| Relatives | Anthony Dilweg (grandson) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Swimming |
Eleanor Coleman (March 10, 1905 – October 2, 1978) was an American swimmer.[1]
Coleman was born in Chicago and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,[2] the daughter of Charles Lemuel Coleman and Nellie May Emerson Coleman. Both of her parents were born in Illinois; her father was a traveling salesman.[3]
Coleman broke the world record in 1922 in the 100 yd breaststroke and competed in the women's 200 metre breaststroke event at the 1924 Summer Olympics.[4] For three years she held a world's record in the women's breaststroke.[5][6][7] Later in life, she gave swimming demonstrations,[8] and was a Red Cross examiner for lifesaving.[9] Beyond the pool, she was a sports writer and editor at the Wisconsin News.[10] She also had a newspaper column and hosted a weekly radio show, both on women's health and fitness.[11][12] She was appointed promotional chair for the American Red Cross in Brown County in 1939.[13]
In 1927, she married Marquette University and Green Bay Packers football player, and later Congressman, LaVern Dilweg.[1][14] The Dilwegs had four children. Her husband died in 1968,[15] and she died in 1978, aged 73 years, in Green Bay, Wisconsin.[16][17] Her son Gary Dilweg served in the Wisconsin state legislature. Her grandson Anthony Dilweg played football at Duke University, and later with the Green Bay Packers.[10]
