Eleanor_Garatti
Eleanor Garatti
American swimmer
Eleanor A. Garatti (July 12, 1909 – September 9, 1998), later known by her married name Eleanor Saville, was an American competition swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, and former world record-holder.
Garatti represented the United States at the 1928 and 1932 Summer Olympics in the 100-meter freestyle and the 4×100-meter freestyle relay. She won a silver and a bronze medal in the 100-meter freestyle, becoming the first woman to win two Olympic medals in the event. She was the only U.S. relay team member to compete at both 1928 and 1932 Olympics; on both occasions the U.S. relay team won the gold medal, breaking the world record in the process. In 1929, Garatti set one more world record, in the individual 100-meter freestyle, becoming the first woman to swim under 1:10.[1]
Garatti was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "honor swimmer" in 1992.[2]
She was also elected to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.[3]
An award in her name, the Eleanor Garatti-Saville Fund, was created through a bequest from Dora Hartford, Eleanor's sister, to provide stipends to Olympic hopefuls. Inaugural grants of $5,000 each were awarded to three aquatic athletes in 2010.[4]
