Brenda Helser (May 26, 1924 – March 26, 2001) was another member of the Multnomah Athletic Club's "Cody's Kids" who brought home an Olympic medal to the Rose City.
Helser already had some quality coaching in San Francisco before her family moved to Portland in the late 1930s. Brenda attended Lincoln High School and begin training at the MAC with coach Jack Cody. She won her first national title in the 220-yard freestyle and by age 17, held four American records.
Brenda then attended Stanford University, still competing for the MAC. The 100-freestyle became a specialty event, and she reset the American record twice during those years. She graduated from Standford in 1946 and moved to Los Angeles. She sought a career in modeling and acting while preparing for the 1948 Olympics in London, the first Summer Games to be held in 12 years due to World War II.
Helser continued to train with the MAC team and qualified for the London Games in three events, winning a gold medal as part of the 4x100 freestyle relay team. Her supposed rivalry with US teammate Ann Curtis drew a lot of attention, but the two maintained a friendship.
Competing overseas led to a meeting with a French nobleman, whom she married. Then known as the Comtesse de Morelos y Guerrero, Helser raised her children in Europe, eventually returning to the US.
Brenda Helser is also a member of the Stanford University Hall of Fame.