Who was given a ticker tape parade in New York City and praised by President Coolidge as 'America's best girl'?

Who was given a ticker tape parade in New York City and praised by President Coolidge as 'America's best girl'?

• A. Anna Kournikova
• B. Gertrude Ederle
• C. Babe Didrikson Zaharias
• D. Grantland Rice

Answer: (B)

Public recognition of trailblazing female athletes through high-profile honors like ticker-tape parades shows how society began to celebrate women's sports achievements in the early 20th century. Gertrude Ederle’s feat—becoming the first woman to swim the English Channel in 1926—captured the nation’s imagination and earned her a ticker-tape parade in New York City. President Calvin Coolidge praised her as “America’s best girl,” a compliment that reflected both national pride in athletic accomplishment and the era’s gendered language. This combination of a groundbreaking athletic achievement and a major public celebration is why she fits the description. The other figures are notable in sports, but they are not associated with this specific parade or with that particular praise.

Public recognition of trailblazing female athletes through high-profile honors like ticker-tape parades shows how society began to celebrate women's sports achievements in the early 20th century. Gertrude Ederle’s feat—becoming the first woman to swim the English Channel in 1926—captured the nation’s imagination and earned her a ticker-tape parade in New York City. President Calvin Coolidge praised her as “America’s best girl,” a compliment that reflected both national pride in athletic accomplishment and the era’s gendered language. This combination of a groundbreaking athletic achievement and a major public celebration is why she fits the description. The other figures are notable in sports, but they are not associated with this specific parade or with that particular praise.