About Claire Galligan
Lived 1895 – 1978 (aged 83). Claire Galligan was an American swimmer.
Claire Agnes Galligan (September 24, 1895, in New York – October 8, 1978, in Los Angeles, California ) was an American freestyle swimmer who won 13 AAU championships over distances ranging from 220 yd to 3 miles. In 1916 she became the first female AAU champion, and on September 13, 1917, she set a world record over 500 yd at 7:31.4. She missed the 1916 Olympics due to World War I, and by the 1920 Games was married to Edgar Finney and retired from swimming. In 1970 she was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
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Important facts
Related people
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Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Claire Galligan's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Claire Galligan?
American freestyle swimmer (1895–1978)
When was Claire Galligan born?
Claire Galligan was born on 24 September 1895 in New York.
When did Claire Galligan die?
Claire Galligan died on 8 October 1978 in Los Angeles.
What was Claire Galligan's occupation?
Claire Galligan was a swimmer.
What nationality was Claire Galligan?
Claire Galligan was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Claire Galligan. https://biography.guide/claire-galligan/
MLA: "Claire Galligan." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/claire-galligan/.
Chicago: "Claire Galligan." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/claire-galligan/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-24 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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