1920
Swimming (Alternate)
1920 Olympic Games
Antwerp, Belgium
Thirteen-year-old Helen Moses was discovered by “Dad” Center in Hilo in 1919 and moved to Honolulu to be trained by him. She quickly became the top female swimmer in the islands setting many Hawaiian records.
She was the only woman selected to be part of the contingent of Hawaii swimmers to participate in the Olympic swimming trials in California in 1920. Helen advanced to the final Olympic trials in New York.
Although she didn’t win her races, she swam the best times of her life and made such an impression on the judges that they considered her in the class of the Olympic swimmers and chose her as a member of the U.S. women’s swimming team as an alternate on the relay team.
The Honolulu Chamber of Commerce held a luncheon for the Olympians upon their return and gave them all gold medals, including Helen.
In 1920 after the Olympics, Helen was given an Honorary/Life membership in the Club. She was inducted into the Hawaii Swimming Hall of Fame in 2002.