Throughout the 1910s Yvonne Degraine had an amazing swimming career in France, which began with her winning three consecutive inter-school titles from 1911 to 1913. Degraine specialised in open water swimming and took part in multiple editions of the Traversée de Paris à la nage (the “Crossing of Paris by Swimming”) race in the Seine. She won multiple races during her career, including becoming the French long-distance champion in 1913. By 1918 she had won more than 40 titles, earning herself a place on the Olympic team for the 1920 Antwerpen Games. At the Olympics she swam in the 100 metres freestyle but did not advance from the heats. Outside of swimming Degraine was a keen motorcycle rider and competed in sidecar races. She was also briefly married to the French sprint cycling champion Lucien Faucheux.
France