[5][2] In June 1921, Gade approached the USS Illinois superintendent for advice on becoming the second woman to swim the 42 miles around Manhattan Island.

Gade swam 42 miles around Manhattan Island in 15 hours and 57 minutes,[2][4] and the swim was reported by The New York Times.

[2] In August 1925, Several newspapers reported on Gade's intention to swim the channel the following year, and highlighted that she was a mother.

[8] In preparation, Gade implemented a daily exercise plan that she had received from racewalking champion Louis Leibgold, the physical director of the Illinois.

Leibgold introduced Corson to L. Walter Lissberger—Chairman of the board of directors at the Malcolm Tyre Company, who gave her $3,000 to finance the trip and bet $5,000 at odds of 20-to-1 on her completing the crossing.

[2] In Spring 1926, she swam eight miles along the Harlem River from Spuyten Duyvil to Hell Gate in one hour and fifty minutes.

[11] In the second half of the swim, the wind and tide slowed her, but her friends encouraged her, and she finished at Shakespeare Cliff, Dover, with a time of 15 hours and 32 minutes.

[13] Gade sailed to New York City aboard the RMS Aquitania,[14] and was welcomed by a ticker-tape parade.