Vicki Valosik is a masters synchronized swimmer whose writing has appeared in publications such as the Atlantic, Smithsonian magazine, and Slate. She is an editorial director and teaches writing at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, and lives in Silver Spring, Maryland.
In Swimming Pretty: The Untold Story of Women in Water, author Vicki Valosik unveils the captivating history of women who challenged societal norms through the medium of aquatic performance. From vaudeville to Hollywood to the Olympics, Valosik chronicles the evolution of synchronized swimming and brings to life the colorful cast of characters whose “pretty swimming” forever changed women’s relationships with water. Long before Esther Williams dazzled on screen, swimming starlets like Lurline the Water Queen and Annette Kellerman stunned Victorian audiences with their mastery of “scientific” swimming—expert aquatic feats previously only exhibited by men (including Benjamin Franklin)—and used their platforms to advocate for safe and sensible swimwear, lifesaving instruction, and physical education for women. Far more than bathing beauties, these trailblazers broke barriers, redefined what was thought proper and possible for their sex, and parted the waves for generations of female athletes. Join Valosik for a compelling discussion of how “swimming pretty” shaped sports, safety, and society in ways still felt today.
Wednesday, June 11th
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Lecture, followed by book signing
Harrison Room
Free
To Register Click Here
