SWIMMING ROMANCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 3, 4 January 1941, Page 2 (Supplement)

SWIMMING ROMANCE

Champion swimmers Peter Mathieson and Sylvia Gotlieb have announced their engagement, as the happy sequel to a real swimming romance. They first met at a national championship meeting some years ago. Both have won New Zealand championships and otherwise swum with distinction. Peter was national backstroke champion from 1935 until his dethronement at Wellington last February by Clive Cliff, of Christchurch. He has held every backstroke record, and times for 100 yards and 400 metres are still listed beside his name. A strong free-stylist, he has been Otago and Auckland champion at distances, is the best harbour swimmer in Auckland and last season was a close second to L. Newell, of Christchurch, in the 440 yards, 880 yards and one mile New Zealand championships. Peter began his swimming in Duncdin, but for the last three years has been in Auckland. Sylvia made a slashing move to the front rank of New Zealand's women swimmers by winning the 100 yards title at Dunedin in 1936. This championship she won again in 1938. She has now retired from the sport. Her home is in Wellington, and her only appearance in Auckland was at the interprovincial carnival held in the Newmarket Olympic Pool last February, when she won the 100 metres scratch race