MARBLE IN MOUTH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 128, 12 March 1935, Page 8

MARBLE IN MOUTH.

HOW A RACE WAS LOST. CHINESE SWIMMER’S ILL-LUCK. Kwok Chung Hang, a young Chinese breaststroke swimmer, is so modest and anxious not to offend that in Melburrte recently he threw away bis chances in the 220yds breaststroke championship of Australia rather than annoy officials. Kwok was greatly fancied for the championship, but he failed to gain a place. Over the last 20 yards he tired perceptibly, and swam more and more slowly At the finish he seemed distressed.

It was afterwards ascertained that Kwok was in good) form, hut that his breathing was impeded by a marble which he had placed in his mouth at the beginning of the race, and which was still there when the race ended. The marble was one which Kwok had drawn for his position at the start of the race. He did not know what to do with it, and as ie does not speak English very well, and he did not wish to worry the officials by asking their advice, he put the marble in his ihouth and left it there during the entire race. The marble prevented him from breathing naturally. When ho was told that he could have thrown away the marble Kwok replied, “Oh, that’s a pity, I wish I had known. I lost four or five seconds through it.”