Millie Corson To Be Honored In San Diego

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Amelia Clemmington “Millie” Gade Corson will be inducted as an Honor Swimmer at the 2026 International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame festivities to be held in San Diego, California. Carol Sing (84, USA, MSF bio here, IMSHOF Class of 2000) is organizing the multi-day event where the Danish swimmer will be honored alongside the following athletes:

Andrew Donaldson (Scotland, 34, MSF bio here, @andy.swimming), Honor Swimmer
María Dígna Ezcurra de Ortellado (died at 84, Paraguay), Honor Swimmer
Bárbara Hernández Huerta (39, Chile, MSF bio here, IISA bio here), Honor Swimmer
Alexander Meyer (37, USA, MSF bio here), Honor Swimmer
Marwan Saleh (83, Syria, MSF bio here), Honor Swimmer
Irving Davids (USA), Honor Coach
Cliff Golding (69, Great Britain, MSF bio here), Honor Administrator
Jacqueline McClelland (Ireland, @jacqueline.mcclelland), Honor Administrator
John Graeme West, (New Zealand), Honor Administrator
Captain Roger W. Wheeler (USA), Honor Administrator
Paul Asmuth (68, USA, MSF bio here), Poseidon Award
Julian Critchlow (60, Great Britain, MSF bio here), Irving Davids/Captain Roger W. Wheeler Memorial Award
Carol Sing (84, USA, MSF bio here, IMSHOF Class of 2000) , Dale Petranech Award for Services to the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame

Millie was an early marathon swimming star as her swims drew considerable media attention. She completed two swims in 1921 that helped pave the way for other female athletes. She was the third swimmer overall and second female (after Robert Dowling in 1915 and Ida Elionsky in 1916) to swim around Manhattan Island and completed a 187 km stage swim from Albany to Manhattan down the Hudson River that took more than 5 days with 63 hours 35 minutes of swimming – and was reported that she slept in the water on the shore as needed.

In August 1926, Millie completed her English Channel swim 21 days after fellow International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honoree Gertrude Ederle. The businessman who funded her swim placed a bet at 20-1 odds with Lloyds of London and netted US$100,000 (in 2025 value US$1.83 million). Her swim further electrified the New York City media which covered them as a pair as Ederle represented youth and Corson with 2 young children represented motherhood. Millie, like Gertrude, was treated to a ticker-tape parade in New York City. There were various media fueled challenges of US$25,000 to US$100,000 for a match race around Manhattan Island, across the Catalina Channel, or anywhere else – that never materialized.

She was voted in as an Associate Member for Life of the International Professional Swimmers Association for her contributions to the sport of swimming in 1927. She attempted two 14.4 km crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar in 1927 and 1928, but was not successful (note: Mercedes Gleitze in 1928 became the first person to cross this strait).

The Class of 2026 Inductions & Awards Ceremony will be held on May 16th with only 16 remaining tickets available.

For more information, visit www.imshof.org.