Maria Emma Hulda Lenk, 92; Brazilian Olympic swimmer
Maria Emma Hulda Lenk, 92, the first South American woman to swim in the Olympics and a pioneer in the development of the butterfly stroke, died Monday in Rio de Janeiro.
Lenk became ill while swimming at the Flamengo club pool and was taken to Copa D’Or Hospital still conscious.
She had a heart attack as doctors were preparing to operate to treat an aneurysm, the hospital in the Copacabana district said.
The Brazilian Olympic Committee declared three days of mourning for Lenk, who had set world records in the 200- and 400-meter breaststroke and another in a relay.
The daughter of German immigrants, Lenk was born in Sao Paulo.
Her first Olympic competition was the 1932 Games in Los Angeles, where her best showing was the semifinals of the 200-meter breaststroke. She also raced in the 100-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke.
Lenk returned for the 1936 Berlin Olympics, swimming the new fly arm stroke with breaststroke kick, which later developed into the butterfly.
Lenk’s best effort was again the semifinals in the 200-meter breaststroke.
She was one of the founders of the World Masters Swimming Championships.
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