Esther Williams Perfectly Suited To Hollywood Stardom
Esther Williams was a swimming star from her youth who transformed herself to a Hollywood celebrity and created a new entertainment genre that suited her athletic skill. Her series of films in the 1940s and early 1950s was known as aquamusicals.Williams performed graceful, but taxing, performances of synchronized swimming, diving and open water swimming.
In the movie trailer shown below, Willimas set out to swim the English Channel in the musical Dangerous When Wet – where in one scene, she is aided by some of the best-dressed support crew in the history of marathon swimming.
But she passed away today at the age of 91. From her competitive swimming days as a 3-time national champion to Hollywood stardom, she was a personable and memorable individual who leaves a long and marvelous legacy. She starred in Bathing Beauty, Hollywood’s first swimming movie as well as created and continued aquamusicals that were well-suited to her athletic pedigree.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff.
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