Joan Alderson (March 5, 1935 – February 14, 2021), later known by her married name Joan Braskamp, was an American competition swimmer and Olympic medalist. She received a bronze medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics.
Alderson was born and grew up in Chicago.[1][2] Her father Edmund had been a collegiate swimmer at the University of Illinois, and she began swimming at the age of 5.[2] She first trained under coach Bill Moyle at the Beverly Country Club, and then under coach Walter Schlueter of the Chicago Town Club where her elite swimming potential was recognized.[2] Fellow Olympic swimmer Jackie LaVine, who also trained with the Chicago Town Club, served as her mentor.[2]
As a 17-year-old, Alderson represented the United States at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland.[1] She received a bronze medal as a member of the third-place U.S. team in the women's 4×100-meter freestyle relay, together with teammates Jackie LaVine, Marilee Stepan and Evelyn Kawamoto.[1][3] Individually, she also competed in the women's 100-meter freestyle and finished fifth in the event final with a time of 1:07.1, only three tenths of a second behind the winner, Hungarian Katalin Szőke.[1][4] According to the official event clock time of 1:07.1, Alderson finished in a third-place tie with Judit Temes of Hungary and Joan Harrison of South Africa, but the judges awarded her fifth place.[4]
In addition to her athletic prowess, Alderson's attractive physical appearance was noted by news publications, several of which called her "blonde," "statuesque," "a blue-eyed whiz"[2] with a "winning smile"[5] and "pretty enough to win beauty contests."[6]
After the Olympics, Alderson attended the University of Illinois, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.[7] She continued to swim competitively while attending college, set a world record in the 100-yard freestyle event in 1954, and was a member of Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) national championship relay teams in 1952 and 1953.[8] She married Lt. Bernard Braskamp, Jr., a U.S. Air Force officer in 1954, and retired from competitive swimming.[7][8]
Alderson died in Stuart, Florida, on February 14, 2021, at the age of 85.[9]
^ abcdSports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, Athletes, Jody Alderson 2012-11-13 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
^ abcdeDavid Condon (July 17, 1952). "Chicago Cheering Section Follows Jody to the Olympics". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
^Sports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, United States Swimming at the 1952 Helsinki Summer Games 2012-11-30 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
^ abSports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, Swimming at the 1952 Helsinki Summer Games, Women's 100 metres Freestyle Final 2012-11-10 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
^"Uncle Sam Picks Olympic Team, Ten Classes Today". The Pittsburgh Press. July 5, 1952. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
^"H2 Ohhh Jody!". Collier's. 1953. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
^ ab"Kappas make a big splash," The Key, vol. 71, no. 4, p. 191 (December 1954). Retrieved August 31, 2015.
^ abUnited Press, "Sportrait," The Neosho Daily News, p. 4A (August 26, 1954). Retrieved August 31, 2015.
^"Jody Braskamp". Echovita. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
External linksedit
Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. . Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2012-11-13.
April 08, 2024
jody, alderson, joan, alderson, march, 1935, february, 2021, later, known, married, name, joan, braskamp, american, competition, swimmer, olympic, medalist, received, bronze, medal, 1952, summer, olympics, personal, informationfull, namejoan, aldersonnickname,. Joan Alderson March 5 1935 February 14 2021 later known by her married name Joan Braskamp was an American competition swimmer and Olympic medalist She received a bronze medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics Jody AldersonPersonal informationFull nameJoan AldersonNickname Jody National team United StatesBorn 1935 03 05 March 5 1935Chicago Illinois U S DiedFebruary 14 2021 2021 02 14 aged 85 Stuart Florida U S Height5 ft 7 in 1 70 m Weight130 lb 59 kg SportSportSwimmingStrokesFreestyleClubChicago Town ClubMedal record Women s swimmingRepresenting the United StatesOlympic Games1952 Helsinki 4 100 m freestyleAlderson was born and grew up in Chicago 1 2 Her father Edmund had been a collegiate swimmer at the University of Illinois and she began swimming at the age of 5 2 She first trained under coach Bill Moyle at the Beverly Country Club and then under coach Walter Schlueter of the Chicago Town Club where her elite swimming potential was recognized 2 Fellow Olympic swimmer Jackie LaVine who also trained with the Chicago Town Club served as her mentor 2 As a 17 year old Alderson represented the United States at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki Finland 1 She received a bronze medal as a member of the third place U S team in the women s 4 100 meter freestyle relay together with teammates Jackie LaVine Marilee Stepan and Evelyn Kawamoto 1 3 Individually she also competed in the women s 100 meter freestyle and finished fifth in the event final with a time of 1 07 1 only three tenths of a second behind the winner Hungarian Katalin Szoke 1 4 According to the official event clock time of 1 07 1 Alderson finished in a third place tie with Judit Temes of Hungary and Joan Harrison of South Africa but the judges awarded her fifth place 4 In addition to her athletic prowess Alderson s attractive physical appearance was noted by news publications several of which called her blonde statuesque a blue eyed whiz 2 with a winning smile 5 and pretty enough to win beauty contests 6 After the Olympics Alderson attended the University of Illinois where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority 7 She continued to swim competitively while attending college set a world record in the 100 yard freestyle event in 1954 and was a member of Amateur Athletic Union AAU national championship relay teams in 1952 and 1953 8 She married Lt Bernard Braskamp Jr a U S Air Force officer in 1954 and retired from competitive swimming 7 8 Alderson died in Stuart Florida on February 14 2021 at the age of 85 9 See also edit nbsp Olympics portalList of Olympic medalists in swimming women List of University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign peopleReferences edit a b c d Sports Reference com Olympic Sports Athletes Jody Alderson Archived 2012 11 13 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved August 31 2015 a b c d e David Condon July 17 1952 Chicago Cheering Section Follows Jody to the Olympics The Chicago Tribune Retrieved August 27 2015 Sports Reference com Olympic Sports United States Swimming at the 1952 Helsinki Summer Games Archived 2012 11 30 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved November 24 2012 a b Sports Reference com Olympic Sports Swimming at the 1952 Helsinki Summer Games Women s 100 metres Freestyle Final Archived 2012 11 10 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved August 31 2015 Uncle Sam Picks Olympic Team Ten Classes Today The Pittsburgh Press July 5 1952 Retrieved August 27 2015 H2 Ohhh Jody Collier s 1953 Retrieved August 31 2015 a b Kappas make a big splash The Key vol 71 no 4 p 191 December 1954 Retrieved August 31 2015 a b United Press Sportrait The Neosho Daily News p 4A August 26 1954 Retrieved August 31 2015 Jody Braskamp Echovita Retrieved 26 November 2021 External links editEvans Hilary Gjerde Arild Heijmans Jeroen Mallon Bill et al Jody Alderson Olympics at Sports Reference com Sports Reference LLC Archived from the original on 2012 11 13 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jody Alderson amp oldid 1172761865, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
