Lackie, Ethel (Mrs. Watkins)
Swimming
b. Oct. 27, 1907, Chicago, IL
Lackie was the first woman to swim the 100-yard freestyle in less than 1 minute and the first to break the 1-minute, 10-second barrier in the 100-meter freestyle.
She won two gold medals at the 1924 Olympics, in the 100-meter freestyle and as a member of the U. S. 4 by 100-meter freestyle relay team. Trailing in the individual event with 25 meters to go, Lackie put on a spectacular burst of speed to win.
Lackie won the national outdoor 100-yard freestyle in 1924 and the 100-meter event in 1926. She was the indoor 100-yard freestyle champion in 1925, 1926, and 1928.