ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 218, 13 September 1924, Page 21

ATHLETICS.

Eric Liddell, the winner of the Olymlic 400 metres, has the distinct personility which 13 noticed in all men who ire designed to do something big in whatever work or play they may take tp. He is immensely popular, and right Tom the time the British Olympic team issembled he was the idol oi .the competitors as well a3 of the spectators. And just as he has a distinct person- : ility, so he has his own characteristic •tyle of running. In breaking the ,vorld"s record for the 400 metres, he ran right from the gun without a falter. vVith head back and arms apparently ighting the air, he tore his way through 11s opponents to victoty. The bagpipes slaved grandly after the race, and that light there was much rejoicing in Edinburgh. In sprinting, H. M. Arhanams' peculiar method of slamming sideways into the tape at the finish has been proved to be more effective than Charlie Paddock's leap. Paddock has said that he has frequently found Morris Kirksey at his elbow a few strides from the finish and ha 3 come home ahead by virtue of his leap. He cannot tell us how much better a winner he might have' been had he stayed on the track. Paddock is a great individualist, and it has been hard plugging-with his piledriver legs that kept him up in front approaching the finish. He might better be proud of the middle part of his race: For this he has had practically no equal in recent years.