Edith Motridge

{{Short description|American swimmer (1913–2007)}} {{good article}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{use American English|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox swimmer | name = Edith Motridge | image = File:Edith Motridge.jpeg | image_size =  | alt = | caption = Motridge in 1936 | fullname = Edith Segal Motridge | nicknames = | national_team = {{USA}} | strokes = Backstroke | club = Los Angeles Athletic Club | collegeteam = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1913|7|30|mf=y}} | birth_place = San Francisco, California, US | death_date = {{Death date and age|2007|11|1|1913|7|30|mf=y}} | death_place = Fairbanks Ranch, California, US | height =  | weight =  | medaltemplates = }}

'''Edith Segal Motridge''' (July 30, 1913 – November 1, 2007), also known by her married name '''Edith Polster'''<ref name="obit">{{cite news |title=Polster, Edith Motridge |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/193406742/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=November 6, 2007 |language=en |page=B11}}</ref> or as '''Edith Motridge Segal''',<ref name="gazette">{{cite news |title=U.S. Women Make Strong Showing |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/76113510 |work=The Gazette and Daily |date=August 12, 1936 |page=10 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="reno">{{cite news |title=American Stars Win Honors In Swimming Tests |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/147973281 |work=Reno Gazette-Journal |date=August 13, 1936 |page=14 |language=en}}</ref> was an American competitive swimmer who represented the United States in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, coming fourth in the women's 100-meter backstroke. After her competitive swimming career, she became Esther Williams' stand-in when filming Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movies, although she also had minor roles in films such as ''Cynthia'' (1946) and ''The Cobweb'' (1955).

After Motridge's swimming and film career, she was involved in philanthropic efforts with her husband, including a Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito Foundation scholarship. She died in Fairbanks Ranch in 2007.

== Early life == Motridge was born in San Francisco on July 30, 1913,<ref name="olympedia">{{cite web |title=Edith Motridge |url=http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/51133 |website=Olympedia |access-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810113851/http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/51133 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> later attending Hollywood High School and the University of Southern California. Due to Hollywood High School not having a girls' swim team, she trained with the boys' team, and later with the Los Angeles Athletic Club.<ref name="obit" />

== Career== === Competitive swimming === At the 1936 Summer Olympics, Motridge placed fourth in the women's 100-meter backstroke with a time of 1:19.6.<ref name="olympediaback">{{cite web |title=Olympedia – 100 metres Backstroke, Women |url=http://www.olympedia.org/results/5109 |website=Olympedia |access-date=August 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809204524/http://www.olympedia.org/results/5109 |archive-date=August 9, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="olympics">{{cite web |title=Edith Motridge Biography, Olympic Medals, Records and Age |url=https://olympics.com/en/athletes/edith-motridge |website=Olympics.com |access-date=August 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809204143/https://olympics.com/en/athletes/edith-motridge |archive-date=August 9, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> She was also the US champion in the 100m backstroke in 1939<ref name="olympics" /> with a time of 1:18.9.<ref name="santabarbara">{{cite news |title=Youngsters Dominate Women's Swim Meet |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/996160393 |work=Santa Barbara News-Press |date=July 30, 1939 |page=16 |language=en}}</ref> Along with Esther Williams, she set the national record in either the 300m or 300-yard medley in 1939.{{efn|1=Some sources state 300 yards,<ref name="medley">{{cite book |title=Beach & Pool |date=1940 |publisher=Beach and Pool Publishing Corporation |page=6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J8MNPYQ7OHMC&q=%22edith+motridge%22 |access-date=June 4, 2024 |language=en}}</ref> others state 300 meters.<ref name="esther">{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=W. E. J. |title=Stand-In a Big Factor in Film Output Today |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/976925225 |work=Buffalo Courier Express |date=December 3, 1950 |pages=95–96 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="sportingnews">{{cite book |last1=Marsh |first1=Irving T. |last2=Ehre |first2=Edward |title=Best Sports Stories |date=1945 |publisher=Sporting News |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uQYvAQAAIAAJ&q=%22edith+motridge%22 |language=en |page=368 |access-date=June 4, 2024}}</ref>}}

=== Film === After her competitive swimming career, Motridge worked on movies at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) as Esther Williams' stunt double and stand-in.<ref name="olympics" /><ref name="williams">{{cite news |title=First Spectacular of Fall To Be Williams Water Show |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/935881017 |work=Columbia Daily Tribune |date=September 29, 1956 |page=11 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="telegraph">{{cite web |last1=Donnelly |first1=Marea |title=From cripple to star: How Australian-born diver Annette Kellerman became a 'pinnacle of physical feminine perfection' |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/from-cripple-to-star-how-australianborn-diver-annette-kellerman-became-a-pinnacle-of-physical-feminine-perfection/news-story/f4a7439e2d3a1cb06998739bd21096c0 |website=Daily Telegraph |access-date=August 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809210523/https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/from-cripple-to-star-how-australianborn-diver-annette-kellerman-became-a-pinnacle-of-physical-feminine-perfection/news-story/f4a7439e2d3a1cb06998739bd21096c0?nk=da33251f08cd76e6b0352e5cfd85cb1f-1691615123 |archive-date=August 9, 2023 |url-status=live |date=August 8, 2016}}</ref> She worked on all swimming films made by MGM.<ref name="olympics" /> Motridge later appeared in other films without Williams, such as in 1945 in ''Without Love''.<ref name="withoutlove">{{cite news |title=June Subs Freund |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/700722116 |work=Evening Star-News |date=December 14, 1944 |page=6 |language=en}}</ref> She went on to play a role in ''The Harvey Girls'' in 1946,<ref name="harveygirls">{{cite news |last1=Heffernan |first1=Harold |title=Hollywood Motion Picture Stars to See Themselves Auctioned Off—in Effigy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/456549522 |work=The Ottawa Citizen |date=March 13, 1945 |page=17 |language=en}}</ref> then played a teacher in the 1947 film ''Cynthia''.<ref name="cynthia">{{cite news |last1=Churchill |first1=Reba |last2=Churchill |first2=Bonnie |title=Hollywood Diary |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/580559670 |work=Valley Times |date=November 28, 1946 |page=15 |language=en}}</ref> She played a nurse in 1955's ''The Cobweb''.<ref name="cobweb">{{cite news |title=Edith Comes Out Onto Dry Land |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/693836128 |work=Los Angeles Mirror |date=January 20, 1955 |page=28 |language=en}}</ref> In 1956, she had an acting role in ''The Swan''.<ref name="theswan">{{cite news |title=Three Stand-ins Get Breaks in 'The Swan' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/380680150 |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=April 28, 1956 |page=12 |language=en}}</ref>

== Personal life == In 1969, Motridge married Leonard Polster.<ref name="obit" /> They moved to Fairbanks Ranch in 1983.<ref name="olympics" /><ref name="northcounty" /> They had three children and four grandchildren.<ref name="obit" /> Throughout their partnership they were involved in philanthropic efforts,<ref name="obit" /> including a Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito Foundation scholarship<ref name="scholarship">{{cite news |last1=Groch |first1=Laura |title=Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito Foundation awards scholarships |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/north-county/sd-no-bgclub-scholarships-20170801-story.html |access-date=August 9, 2023 |work=San Diego Union-Tribune |date=August 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809212636/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/north-county/sd-no-bgclub-scholarships-20170801-story.html |archive-date=August 9, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> started in the late 1980s<ref name="knox">{{cite news |last1=Knox |first1=Julie |title=Couple establishes student scholarship fund |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/577383983 |work=North County Times |date=May 31, 1999 |page=19 |language=en}}</ref> which was reported in 1999 to give $25,000–$30,000 scholarships to students in North County, California.<ref name="northcounty">{{cite news |title=Clubs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/577208352 |work=North County Times |date=December 29, 1999 |page=7 |language=en}}</ref>

Motridge died on November 1, 2007, at her home in Fairbanks Ranch.<ref name="obit" />

== Notes == {{notelist}}

== References == {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Motridge, Edith}} Category:1913 births Category:2007 deaths Category:American female backstroke swimmers Category:Olympic swimmers for the United States Category:Swimmers from San Francisco Category:Swimmers at the 1936 Summer Olympics Category:20th-century American sportswomen