Eleanor G. Holm American swimmer Date of Birth: 06.12.1913 Country: USA

1. Biography of Eleanor Holm
2. Olympic Triumph and WAMPAS Baby Star
3. Controversy and Struggles
4. Acting Career and Personal Life

Biography of Eleanor Holm

Eleanor G. Holm was born in 1913 in Brooklyn, New York. Her father worked as a firefighter. From an early age, she began swimming and quickly found success. At the age of 13, Holm became a national champion and joined the American team preparing for the upcoming 1928 Olympics. While she finished fifth in the Olympic 100-meter backstroke, Holm proved to be a versatile swimmer, achieving decent results in other styles as well.

Olympic Triumph and WAMPAS Baby Star

In 1932, at the Olympic Games held in Los Angeles, California, Holm competed in the final race against the reigning champion, Marie Braun, and ultimately secured a magnificent victory. In the same year, Holm was chosen as one of the fourteen "WAMPAS Baby Stars," sharing her fame with Ginger Rogers and Gloria Stuart. The following year, on September 2, 1933, Holm married Art Jarrett, her former classmate at Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn. Jarrett worked as a singer and jazz band leader at the "Coconut Grove" nightclub. Holm also participated in concerts, showcasing her talent in a white swimsuit and cowboy hat, on towering heels.

Controversy and Struggles

In 1936, Holm made it to the Olympics once again, now competing under the name Eleanor Holm-Jarrett. However, her pre-Olympic days were overshadowed by a regrettable incident that had a severe impact on her athletic career. A loud party held on a ship became disastrous for Holm. The following morning, she was found in a precumose state, attributed to alcohol consumption. She was then accused of alcoholism, although she vehemently denied it. As a result, she was disqualified from participating in the Olympic Games. Holm later recalled the unpleasant conversation she had with the team leader, where she argued and protested against being sent to bed at 9 PM. Moreover, she had already consumed several glasses of champagne and did not want to go to bed at all. She was told that such behavior was detrimental to the entire team, setting a negative example. The news of her disqualification devastated her.

Acting Career and Personal Life

Despite the setback, Holm continued to achieve success both in the pool and in other areas. By that time, she was already known as a singer and actress. Starting in 1933, she occasionally appeared in minor film projects, and in 1938, she played a significant role in the film "Tarzan's Revenge." However, her acting career did not progress further. Holm divorced her first husband, Art Jarrett, and married impresario Billy Rose. With Rose's help, she managed to secure roles in films and also participated in the weekly show "Aquacade," appearing in 39 episodes. In 1954, their marriage ended, and Rose paid Holm considerable alimony.

Her third husband was oilman Thomas Whalen. Eleanor Holm lived until the age of 90 and passed away on January 31, 2004, due to kidney disease.