Susan Laird

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Susan Laird
Personal information
Full name Susanne E. Laird
Nickname(s) "Susan"
Nationality  United States
Born (1908-07-18)July 18, 1908
Homestead, Pennsylvania
Died November 7, 1933(1933-11-07) (aged 25)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Sport
Sport Swimming
Stroke(s) Freestyle
Club Carnegie Library Athletic Club

Susanne E. Laird (July 18, 1908 – November 7, 1933) was an American competition swimmer who represented the United States at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam.

She was born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, and was one of four girls, including Josephine McKim and Lenore Kight, who trained at the Carnegie Library Athletic Club under coach Jack Scarry to represent the United States as members of the Olympic swim team.[1]

Susan began swimming at age 14 on the advice of a physician after developing St. Vitus Dance. The doctor believed swimming as a daily exercise would help to cure her nervous condition.

Susan won her first championship in 1924 at Lake Elizabeth in Pittsburgh, winning the 50-yard freestyle in 32 seconds. She placed second in the 100 meters and third in the 300-yard medley at the 1926 Sesquicentennial in Philadelphia. That year, she went on to win the national 100-yard junior championship.

In 1928 she qualified for the American Olympic Team, and traveled aboard the S.S. President Roosevelt to Amsterdam, Holland, for the 1928 Summer Olympics. Susan finished fifth in the 100 metre freestyle event. She also helped the American relay team to qualify for the final of the 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay competition as they set a new world record in the semi-finals. Susan did not swim in the finals, although she received a gold medal along with the American team as they went on to finish first.

After graduating from Temple University in 1930, Susan was appointed girls' coach and physical education instructor at Homestead High School, a position she held until her death from a rare blood disorder and subsequent pneumonia at age 25.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Madarasz, Anne. "Pittsburgh's Ace Mermaids". Sports History. Pittsburgh Sports Report. Retrieved 9 December 2012. 

External links

  • Susan Laird – Olympic athlete profile at Sports-Reference.com


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