THE SWIMMING CARNIVAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 99, 29 April 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE SWIMMING CARNIVAL.

(By Teresa Fluyed, Totara Ave., New Lynn). The notice on the school notice board caught Judy's eye as she walked down the corridor. It read: "School Swimming Championships.— Tlie above will be held next Tuesday at the Rangiora Baths. Further particulars will be given by your form mistresses." Judy's heart danced. She adored swimming, and as she lived practically next door to the Rangiora Baths she nearly lived in them after school hours. Immediately fehe decided that she would polish up her diving, a weak point with her, and practise as she had never practised before. During the afternoon periods, she couldn't think of anything else, with the inevitable result that she received a crop of lines. No sooner had she arrived home than she procured her costume, and raced to the baths. Her sister, Frances, tried to persuade Judy to teach her a new stroke, but Judy dismissed her with "another time" and went on in her quest of perfection. I he next day Klsie and Jean, two of h<M best friends, begged her to go out with them. A new roller-skating rink had made its appearance in Rangiora, mid they wanted to be among the" first in the school to try it out. All three of them were clever skaters, and looked forward to the evening's entertainment with keen anticipation. Five records had been played wh«n the two-step came on. Judy was just beginning to enjoy herself when a learner came flying again 8 t her with the result that there was a sudden collision.

When Judy escaped from the melee and the ambulance man had attended to her, she knew that her wrist was broken. Gone were all her high hopes of capturing- the championship! And the most bitter thought of all was that she had brought it on herself. A very sad spectator watched the events on Tuesday night. She knew in her heart she had more than a fair chance of beating them all. However, she did feel genuinely pleased when Frances won one of the minor events. The following year she won the championship and in the years that followed she reached the highest pi: -?le of success. Eventual e travelled overseas to compete in the Olympics, in which 6he captured :r.any honours. Sports writers wrote her up as the most brilliant swimmer New Zealand had yet produced, and made many other flattering remarks abour- her progress. Tn spite of a.'! this adulation she again recaptured tie thrill she had felt before her unfortmia* ± accident.