Helene Madison (1914-1970) started swimming at Green Lake when she was 12 years old. At 19, she swept the women's freestyle swimming events in the 1932 Olympics, winning three gold medals. She tied with male gymnast Romeo Neri of Italy as the most successful athlete at the 1932 games. That same year she held all 16 women's world freestyle records and 56 American awards. When she returned to Seattle, the city presented her with a car, a Navy and Police escort and Seattle's largest ticker tape parade. Madison was unable to compete further in Olympic events due to some brief and unsuccessful professional endeavors.