RENO, Nev. (AP) Ivy Browne, who gained national attention in 1934 for swimming from San Francisco to Oakland has died at 87.

She Tuesday of leukemia at a Reno hospital.

Browne was 19 when she swam across San Francisco Bay on a dare. The swim made headlines, and her photo was published in Life magazine. Her record of 2 hours, 6 minutes stood for 46 years.

It was the first in a lifetime of swimming triumphs for the woman who was dubbed the Unsinkable Ivy Browne by San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen.

She swam in open water around the world, including Hawaii, New Zealand and Santa Cruz, Calif. She held a world record of 4 hours, 19 minutes in the 10-kilometer open-water swim.

Browne abandoned her swimming when she moved to Lake Tahoe in 1942. She spent 40 years at Tahoe, caring for the houses of wealthy summer residents.

At age 65, she moved to Reno and rediscovered her love for the sport. In 1995 and 1996, she was national open-water swimming champion in the 80-to-84 age group. At 82, she was the first woman to swim across Lake Mead.

Browne also swam in the Senior Olympics and won countless medals.

"She was always on the go, constantly doing something involved with swimming and athletics," said Caitlin Summers, Browne's granddaughter.

A memorial service was held Saturday.

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