1924 Ethel Lackie Paris Summer Olympics Gold Medal: 100M Freestyle Swimming....

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$19,120.00 Bid Source: HA.com/Live bidder

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1924 Ethel Lackie Paris Summer Olympics Gold Medal: 100M Freestyle Swimming. One of two Gold Medals earned by the seventeen-year old American at the Paris Games, this important prize documents her status as the fastest female swimmer on Earth The United States swept the medals in this event, with Lackie's 1:12.4 narrowly edging Marichen Wehselau at the wall. A second and a half later Gertrude Ederle, who would become the first woman to swim the English Channel in 1926, finished with the Bronze. These medalists would comprise three quarters of the 100M Freestyle Relay for which Lackie would earn her second Gold of the Games. That medal is presented in the lot to follow.

The medal derives from the Lackie family and makes its hobby debut within this Platinum Night auction. Obverse presents two athletes in a show of sportsmanship, with the Olympic rings below. Verso announces "VIIIeme Olympiade Paris 1924" beneath an assortment of sporting paraphernalia. Stamped on edge is "2 Argent," the latter the French word for "silver," as Olympic Gold Medals created after 1912 have been, in fact, gold-plated silver. The medal is housed in its original green velvet lined hinged case and presents without any flaws to note.

Two years after claiming a pair of Golds in Paris, Lackie would establish a World Record in the 100M with a time of 1:10, besting 1924 Silver Medalist Wehselau's mark by more than two seconds. Lackie would enjoy the crown for over three and a half years before surrendering it to 1928 Amsterdam Games Silver Medalist Eleanor Garatti.