Katherine Rawls secured her first major breakthrough at the 1931 U.S. National Championships, where as a 14-year-old she defeated star Eleanor Holm in the 300-meter individual medley. This performance established her as a premier American athlete, eventually leading to a career that encompassed 33 national titles across swimming and springboard diving disciplines throughout the 1930s.
Early Athletic Development
Born in Nashville in 1917, Rawls began swimming at age two in Saint Augustine, Florida. By age seven, she started diving in Tampa from a 25-foot platform. Her early competitive years were defined by her involvement in the 'Rawls' Water Babies,' a group featuring her siblings Dorothy, Evelyn, Peggy, and Sonny, who performed in various junior contests and exhibitions across Florida.
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In 1936, she also secured a bronze medal as part of the 4x100-meter freestyle relay team. Her national dominance was absolute; by 1938, she held 18 national records in breaststroke, freestyle, and medley events, remaining undefeated in individual medley races for eight consecutive years. Following a successful 1937 season, she was named the Associated Press Athlete of the Year.
Aviation and Later Career
Beyond her aquatic success, Rawls became a pilot during her competitive swimming years. In 1942, she joined the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron, moving military cargo by air while stationed in Detroit. After her competitive career concluded, she served as a swimming instructor for 20 years at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. She was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1965 and passed away in 1982.
Fast facts
- Born: 1917, Nashville
- Died: 1982, White Sulphur Springs
- Total U.S. National Titles: 33
- 1937 Associated Press Athlete of the Year
- Olympic Medals: 2 silver, 1 bronze
- Wartime Role: Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron pilot
- Hall of Fame Induction: 1965
Questions readers ask
Did Katherine Rawls compete in both swimming and diving at the Olympics?
Yes, she earned medals in 3-metre springboard diving and as a member of the 4x100-meter freestyle relay team.
What was her role during World War II?
She was one of the first 28 pilots in the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron, where she transported military cargo.
Achievements
- International Swimming Hall of Fame
- Worked as aircraft pilot, swimmer and competitive diver
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