| Mariechen Wehselau | |
| Fullname: | Mariechen M. Wehselau |
| National Team: | United States |
| Strokes: | Freestyle |
| Club: | Outrigger Canoe Club |
| Coach: | Dad Center |
| Birth Date: | May 15, 1906 |
| Birth Place: | Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
Mariechen M. Wehselau (May 15, 1906 – July 12, 1992), also known by her married name Mariechen Jackson, was an American competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and world record-holder.[1]
Wehselau represented the United States at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris.[2] She won a gold medal as a member of the winning U.S. team in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay, together with American teammates Euphrasia Donnelly, Gertrude Ederle and Ethel Lackie.[2] [3] The U.S. relay team set a new world record of 4:58.8 in the event final.[2] Individually, she also received a silver medal for her second-place performance in the 100-meter freestyle, finishing with a time of 1:12.8, immediately behind American teammate Ethel Lackie.[2] [4]
After the Games Wehselau was invited by the Australian Swimming Association to compete in local championships and perform in exhibitions. She then returned to Hawaii, where from 1928 to 1937 she trained swimmers together with her past coach Dad Center.[5] In 1989 she was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Pioneer Swimmer".[6] She died in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1992.[7]