Patty (Aspinall) Reel

Olympian... 200 breastroke (1940) - Olympics cancelled due to WWII (IAC)
National Champion: 200 meter breastroke (1941,1942,1943) (IAC/Riviera)
                                       220 yard breastroke (1940,1941) (IAC/Riviera)

I learned to swim at the Riviera Club the first year it was opened. Euphrazia Donnely taught me to swim. She was a member of the 1924 Olympic Team. I idolized her and she inspired me to swim competitively . I swam local meets in the summer at the Riviera Club. At age 10, I started swimming year round at IAC with Dick Papenguth as coach. He taught me all strokes. He was first to have swimmers practice kicking with tennis shoes and to tether swimmers to the end of the pool to swim in place.

I was the first person to swim 200 meters butterfly or whimpy as swimmer's called it. In Breastroke, at that time, you could do breastroke or butterfly for any part of the event. They were both considered the Breastroke and later around 1952, became two separate events.

Age 12, I broke the American record for 200 yd. indoor at the dedication of Purdue University pool in 1939. In 1940, placed 2nd Indoor Nationals. In 1940, Olympic Team in Breastroke. I was the second woman from Indiana to make the Olympic Team and Fraze Donnely, who taught me to swim, was 1st, 1924.

Dick Papenguth went to Purdue University to coach in 1940. I practiced with him on weekends.

Bud Sawin came to Riviera to coach in 1941 and I swam for Riviera from 1941 - 1944. I won the Breastroke National Title 5 times during these years. Riviera Club won the National Woman's Swimming Title  in 1941, 1942, 1943 and 1944.

I also was Indiana State Champion, Mid-Western State Champion, Indianapolis City Champion, All-American on Swimming Team 1941-1942-1943.

Named Outstanding Woman Athlete for Indiana 1st half of 20th century 1900-1950.

Named to Ft. Lauderdale Swimming Hall of Fame

Named to Helm's Foundation Hall of Fame in Los Angeles, California