Swimmer ‘Unsinkable’ Browne dies

Wednesday, May 8, 2002 | 8:31 a.m.

Long-distance swimmer Ivy V. Browne, who five years ago became the first woman to swim across Lake Mead, died last week at a convalescent home in Reno, her longtime residence.

Browne, whose swimming exploits earned her the nickname "The Unsinkable Ivy Browne" from late San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen, died Tuesday of leukemia, of which she was diagnosed last month. She was 87.

Browne competed and won even after she had a pacemaker installed, had a hip replaced and, in her final meets, had the use of only one arm.

Competing for the Sierra Nevada Masters Swim Team, she was ranked No. 1 in the 500-meter freestyle in 2001; the 50-, 100- and 200-meter freestyle in 2000; the 50-meter breaststroke, 50-meter butterfly and 100-meter individual medley also in 2000; and the 50-meter freestyle in 1995.

But it was in her youth that Browne gained international fame. In 1934 she swam from San Francisco to Oakland on a dare. Her photo was published in Life magazine and her record of 2 hours, 6 minutes stood for 46 years.

She also set open-water records in Hawaii and New Zealand, and once held a world record of 4 hours, 19 minutes in the 10 kilometers.

Browne quit swimming when she moved to Lake Tahoe in 1942 and long ran a catering and house sitting business.

In 1995 and 1996 Browne was national open-water champion in the 80 to 84 age group. In 1997 she became the first woman to swim across Lake Mead.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.