Aileen Allen

Who is this?

Mary Aileen Allen, born Mary Conquest, (December 22, 1888 – September 4, 1950) was a Canadian-born American diver, swimmer, actress, and sports coach. Born on Prince Edward Island, she was raised in Perth Amboy, New Jersey and studied physical education at what is today the College of New Jersey. She spent two years studying law at George Washington University in Washington D.C. where she met and married her husband Arthur Allen. After her marriage, Allen moved to California where she was a successful competitive swimmer and diver, and appearing as a bathing beauty and diver in several short silent films made with Keystone Studios and Pathé Exchange in the 1910s. She also appeared in stage productions in California. Allen won multiple national diving competitions and competed as a diver in the 1920 Summer Olympics. After 1920 she worked as a coach for swimming, diving, and track and field in Pasadena and Los Angeles for the remainder of her life. She was the coach for the United States women's track and field team at the 1928 Summer Olympics and the coach for the United States women's swim team during the 1932 Summer Olympics. Her notable students included Olympic medalist Caroline Fletcher and swimmer and movie star Esther Williams.

Career

1. 1888
   Birth