04.12.2024
Filmmaker Elliott Hasler’s hit film Vindication Swim brings to life the inspiring story of pioneering swimmer Mercedes Gleitze, best known for her record-breaking swims, including her famous English Channel crossing in 1927. While the film focuses on her remarkable career, the story of Mercedes Gleitze also has a special connection to Derbyshire.
In 1930, Gleitze visited Derby as part of her nationwide swimming campaign. At the Reginald Street Baths, she completed a gruelling 14-hour marathon swim, demonstrating her incredible stamina and determination. This event was part of a series of promotional swims she did across the country to showcase her talent and challenge the limits of endurance swimming.
The Reginald Street Baths, a popular venue at the time, hosted Gleitze as she swam in front of a captivated local crowd. Her swim was not just a test of physical endurance, but a demonstration of the resilience that defined her career.
Vindication Swim captures Gleitze’s challenges both in the water and in her personal life, highlighting the barriers she faced as a female athlete in a male-dominated world. For Derby, her swim at the Reginald Street Baths remains a historic event and a proud part of the city’s sporting heritage.
As Vindication Swim continues to inspire audiences on streaming services, following its successful theatrical release earlier this year, it serves as a reminder of Derby’s role in the history of British sport and celebrates the enduring legacy of women like Mercedes Gleitze who broke barriers in pursuit of their dreams. Vindication Swim is out now and available to watch digitally.
You can watch Vindication Swim here:
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