![]() Edith Motridge in 1936 | |
Personal information | |
---|---|
Full name | Edith Segal Motridge |
National team | ![]() |
Born | San Francisco, California | July 30, 1913
Died | November 1, 2007 Fairbanks Ranch, California | (aged 94)
Sport | |
Sport | Swimming |
Strokes | Backstroke |
Club | Los Angeles Athletic Club |
Edith Segal Motridge (July 30, 1913 – November 1, 2007), also known by her married name Edith Polster[1] or as Edith Motridge Segal,[2][3] was an American competitive swimmer who represented the United States in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. After her competitive swimming career, she was most well-known as Esther Williams' stand-in when filming Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movies, although she also had minor roles in movies such as Cynthia and The Cobweb.
Motridge was born in San Francisco on July 30, 1913,[4] 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.[1]
Motridge posted a time of 1:19.6 and placed fourth in the women's 100-meter backstroke final at the 1936 Summer Olympics.[5][6] She was also the US champion in the 100m backstroke in 1939[6] with a time of 1:18.9.[7] Along with Esther Williams, she set the national record in either the 300m or 300-yard medley in 1939.[a]
After Motridge's competitive swimming career, she worked on movies at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) as Esther Williams' stunt double and stand-in.[6][11][12] She worked on all swimming movies made by MGM.[1]
Motridge's acting career separate from Williams, mostly consisting of minor roles, began in 1945 as a background character in Without Love.[13] She went on to play a role in The Harvey Girls in 1946,[14] then played a teacher in the 1947 film Cynthia.[15] She played a nurse in 1955's The Cobweb;[16] in 1956, she had an acting role in The Swan.[17]
Motridge married Leonard Polster, an investment company executive, in 1968[18] or 1969;[1] they moved to Fairbanks Ranch in 1983.[6][19] They had three children and four grandchildren.[1] Throughout their partnership they were involved in philanthropic efforts,[1] including a Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito Foundation scholarship[20] started in the late 1980s[21] which gives $25,000-$30,000 scholarships to students in North County, California.[19]
Motridge died on November 1, 2007, at her home in Fairbanks Ranch.[1]