Mavis Freeman

1936 Olympic bronze In the Olympic preliminaries in Berlin, the U.S. 4x100 freestyle relay team finished first with a 4:47.1, edging out the British team by only 1/10 of a second, requiring a decision. Freeman swam the third leg, and the Americans qualified for the finals, as the teams with the top three finishes were selected. The Dutch relay team, however, was considerably faster, swimming their separate preliminary heat in a time of only 4:38.1, marking them as a clear favorite for the finals.

On August 14, 1936, at only 17, Freeman earned a bronze medal swimming the third leg as a member of the third-place U.S. team in the women's 4×100-meter freestyle relay, together with her teammates Katherine Rawls, Bernice Lapp and Olive McKean. The Americans finished in a time of 4:40.2.

International Swimming Hall of Fame member Ray Daughters was Head Coach for the U.S. Olympic Women's swimming team that year. With Olive McKean swimming the anchor or final leg, the U.S. 4x100-meter team finished four seconds behind the second place team from Germany who lost to the Dutch team in a close finish. The German team led with 20 meters left in the race, but Rita Mastenbroek of the Dutch team overtook the German swimmer in the final meters. The Americans led through the second lap, but fell back. Historically, the American team had frequently won the event and had on several occasions held the world record prior to the games, but in 1936 the Dutch team had set the World Record and were the heavy favorite.

Freeman captured the Long Distance title in AAU competition in both 1936 and 1937.

In 1940's, Freeman spent some time in theater, and received praise for her performance in John Shatz's "Blow Bugle Blow", performed at the Rochester Summer Theatre in East Avon, New York in August 1940. In 1944, she worked as the understudy in the New York City play "Lovers and Friends". In September, 1944, she appeared in the play "Last Stop" at the Barrymore Theater, a play about a group of women fighting for their rights. In January, 1945, she appeared in the Ben Martin comedy "Bonanza".