SWIMMING CHAMPIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 235, 3 October 1924, Page 10

SWIMMING CHAMPIONS.

i -MISS SITAND'S EXPERIENCES. New Zealand's champion lady swimmer, Miss U-witha Sband, of ChristI church, w:i3 one of the happiest momi bcrs of the party of Australian and Now Zealand representatives, who returned from the Olympic Games this week. She had had a wonderful time, and she was pleased to be home a.am. but from her remarks to a Press representative it was plain that she had some feelings of disappointment. These wore i\\w to her failure to gain for Now Zealand a place in the ladies' swimming finals at the Olympic Games. Everyone knows, however, that Miss Sband dM bor la-sl for the country she was representing, and, although she did not win at the Games, she was a representative of whom Now Zealanders wore proud. lt was ber lirst visit, to the Games, and it. was most unfortunate that on the day of the race in which her true form would have undoubtedly gained for bor a place, she developed a severe -old. I tut that was not all. "Kverytli'-ng was wrong.'' she remarked. , "Probably the climate bad something to do with it, and perhaps the different j water had an effect. I'm satisfied, too. j that Now Zealand will never do well at the Games unless the loam has a trainer. I'urd.v. Herd, and 1 all found it the same. Without someone to understand the requirements of members of a team in preparing for big events, it is simply a case of repeating the initial faults that one may make. The Americans have their trainers, and that is where I hey score. So you can realise how hard it is to compote under (hose conditions. 1 was far from satisfied with my own performances. I did not strike lorm in Paris, but 1 met with better success in Dublin, and, ulthoU-h the times wore slow, they were equal to good times iv other waters." Mis< Sband displayed a. handsome gold medal, valued at £15. presented at the Tailteatin. liames for meritorious per--ormanco. She had also won other medals. Befcrring to the brilliance of the performances by the American lady swimmers, Miss -hand said that she was confident that she could have gained a place in the finals at the Olympic Games if she had been swimming to form. Misses Morolious, Wehselaii. and l.eokie were simply marvellous. Of her experiences other than in th-. -enter, Miss Shund said that she had enjoyed Ihe whole trip immensely. "After giving an exhibition •'il Brussels \vr flow across lo London." she ad,lc.l. "It was thrilling, but I don't know whether I would care to ( have that experience a.nin.'' Finally she spoke iv high praise of ihe manner iv which Mr. O. G. ]|. Morrctt, the Australian team's manager, and Miss Ounther, who travelled with her throughout the tour, but studied her welfare. They were both most kind to her. Anion, those at the wharf to meet Miss Shund were her mother and her sister.