Iris Cummings

Iris Cummings Critchell
Cummings in 2007
Born(1920-12-21)December 21, 1920
DiedJanuary 24, 2025(2025-01-24) (aged 104)
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Competitive swimmer, aviator
Known forLast Living Participant at 1936 Summer Olympics, co-founder and director of Bates Aeronautics Program at Harvey Mudd College
Height5 ft 4.5 in (164 cm)

Iris C. Cummings (December 21, 1920 - January 24, 2025), also known by her married name Iris Critchell, was an American aviator and former competition swimmer. She represented the United States at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.[1]

She was accepted into the University of Southern California's first Civilian Pilot Training Program in 1939. During World War II, she was a member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs).

As of 2025, Cummings was the last-known surviving participant of the 1936 Olympics and pre-war Olympics.[2] She died in Carlsbad, California on January 24, 2025, at the age of 104.[3][4]

  1. Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; Evans, Hilary (September 2010). "Iris Cummings Biography and Olympic Results". Olympics. Sports Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
  2. Hawthorn, Tom (1 April 2022). "B.C. swimmer Joan McLagan competed at Hitler's 1936 Olympics". The Globe and Mail. The Woodbridge Company. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  3. "Passages: Iris Cummings Critchell, Oldest Survivor of 1936 Olympics, Dies at 104". Swimming World. January 28, 2025. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  4. Goldstein, Richard (January 30, 2024). "Iris Cummings Critchell, 104, Dies; Olympic Swimmer Turned Aviator". The New York Times. Retrieved January 30, 2025.

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