Iris Cummings Critchell, an inspiring figure who bridged the worlds of sports and aviation, has died at the age of 104. She was the last surviving member of the U.S. team that competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, a Games infamous for Adolf Hitler’s attempt to promote Nazi ideology.

At just 15, Iris swam in Berlin, but her journey to the Olympics wasn’t easy. Back then, athletes had to fund their own trips. “We were scrambling to raise money instead of training,” she recalled in an interview with Swimming World in 1984. Her story is a testament to grit and determination.

After her Olympic days, Iris took to the skies. During World War II, she joined the Women’s Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs), an elite group of women who flew military aircraft to support the war effort. Breaking barriers in aviation, she later became a respected aeronautics instructor at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California.

Her legacy is one of resilience and trailblazing. From the pool to the cockpit, Iris Cummings Critchell left an indelible mark on history—a true pioneer in sports and aviation.