Mary Lou Petty

Mary Lou Petty (April 5, 1915 – April 2, 2014), also known by her married name Mary Lou Skok, was an American competition swimmer. She competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics and placed fourth in the 400-meter freestyle event.[1]

Mary Lou Petty
Mary Lou Petty in 1936
Personal information
Full nameMary Lou Petty
National team United States
Born(1915-04-05)April 5, 1915
Spokane, Washington, U.S.
DiedApril 2, 2014(2014-04-02) (aged 98)
Tempe, Arizona, U.S.
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
ClubWashington Athletic Club

Petty was born in Spokane, Washington. She was an adept swimmer by the age of 8 and began swimming competitively at the age of 13. She had originally prepared to compete in the 1932 Summer Olympics, but the failure of her family's business during the Great Depression prevented her from acquiring the necessary financial backing. After becoming engaged to Bob Skok and taking a job as a secretary at Montgomery Ward, she moved to Seattle and qualified for the 400-meter freestyle at the 1936 Summer Games, having swum out of the Washington Athletic Club for the past three years. During this inter-Olympic period she set several national records. Her roommate on the boat to Berlin was Eleanor Holm Jarrett. Despite food poisoning, she managed to place fourth in the competition and later recalled observing both German Leader Adolf Hitler and athlete Jesse Owens at the Games. Upon her return to New York, she married Skok and eventually moved to Los Angeles, after he decided to pursue optometry. During World War II she helped build wings for the Lockheed Hudson bomber and the two remained together until his death on March 27, 1998.[2][3]

Petty died on April 2, 2014, three days before her 99th birthday. Until her death she resided in Arizona.[4]

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mary Lou Petty.
  1. Gjerde, Arild; Jeroen Heijmans; Bill Mallon; Hilary Evans (2008). "Mary Lou Petty Biography and Statistics". Olympics. Sports Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
  2. Crouse, Karen (July 21, 2008). "Poolside View of History at '36 Games". New York Times. Olympics 2008. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
  3. Nelson, Gary (May 23, 2011). "1936 Olympics swimmer recalls Games, Hitler". The Arizona Republic. Gannett Company. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  4. "In Memory of Mary Lou Skok". Dignity Memorial. April 2, 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2014.


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